Study on the effect of vacuum sealing drainage on the repair process of rabbit sciatic nerve injury

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of vacuum sealing drainage on sciatic nerve repair after injury in rabbits. Materials and Methods: Twenty four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. About 1 cm sciatic nerve was transected and sutured back in situ. The experimental group had vacuum sealing drainage assisted wound closure whereas the control group had normal wound closure. The nerve repair rate was compared based on nerve conduction velocity, lower leg triceps wet weight recovery rate, histology, immunohistochemical of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and ultrastructure observation of regenerated nerve by electron microscopy at the 4th and 8th week after surgery. Results: At the 1st-2nd weeks after surgery, irritation and ulcers were observed on the surgical side in both the experimental group and the control group. At the 4th and 8th week after surgery, electrical nerve conduction velocity in the experimental group was faster than in the control group (p < 0.05) and triceps muscle calf wet weight recovery rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunohistochemical staining intensity in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05) and toluidine blue staining and electron microscopic observation showed that the nerve regeneration and repair were more pronounced in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Myelinated nerve fibers in the experimental group were more than that in the control group at the 4th week and 8th week after surgery. Conclusion: Vacuum sealing drainage facilitates repair of peripheral nerve injury.