proximal coaptation site stump proximal coaptation site nerve graft No SW treatment: longitudinal section, right sciatic nerve, rat, 5 days post op, NF AB staining
coaptation site prox stump nerve graft SW treatment: longitudinal section, right sciatic nerve, rat, 5 days post op, NF AB staining
Axonal sprouting proximal distal 1,8mm No SW treatment: longitudinal section, right sciatic nerve, rat, 7 days post op, NF AB staining
Axonal sprouting proximal distal 3,5 mm SW treatment: longitudinal section, right sciatic nerve, rat, 7 days post op, NF AB staining
Control SW treated NF positive axons are closer to the coaptation site and are thinner SW treated NF positive axons are more distal to the coaptation site and are thicker
Axonal sprouting rate 1 week after SW application 4,5 4 3,5 3 distance to 2,5 shock wave dist. suture 2 sham control in mm 1,5 1 Mean +/- SD 0,5 n= 3/4 1 week Axonal diameter 1 week after SW application 12 10 8 axonal diameter in μm shock wave 6 sham control 4 2 Mean +/- SD n= 3/4 1 week
Conclusion The results of this nerve transection and repair study in the rat show, that SW treatment immediately after surgery is effective. There is improvement of functional recovery. This may be due to an increased neural angiogenesis, decreased neural collagenisation and improved axonal sprouting.
Thank you Robert Schmidhammer Thomas Hausner Shahin Zandieh Wolfgang Schaden Rudolf Hopf Heinz Redl Antal Nógrádi