Objective: This study investigated the
effect of topical 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) application on the epineural scar
tissue, which has a negative impact on the outcome after a peripheral nerve
surgery, and whether the application of two doses of 5-FU would change the
outcome.
Materials and Methods: The study involved 72
3-month-old female Spradue-Dawey rats weighing 250-300 g each. After the
experimental animals were observed for a week to make certain that they were
healthy, they were randomly divided into 3 main groups; Group A: skin incision
+ epineurotomy + isotonic (n=24), Group B: skin incision + epineurotomy +
single dose of 5-FU (n=24) and Group C: skin incision + epineurotomy + two
doses of 5-FU (n=24). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups based on the
weeks in which they were examined. The two subgroups in each of the three
groups were made subject to a walking test, and macroscopic and histopathological
examinations at Week 4 and Week 8.
Results: An evaluation of the
macroscopic results showed that there was a statistically significant difference
between Group A and Group C in sciatic nerve adhesion and severability of its
branches. We obtained better results in Group C, when compared
with the results obtained in Group A.
Conclusion:
We demonstrated in our
study that 5-FU had a positive effect on the scar tissue developed around the
epineurectomized nerve. This positive effect was also reflected in the nerve’s
functional capacity, and a second dose of 5-FU application further improved
this effect.
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Clinical Sciences |
Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | January 28, 2018 |
Published in Issue | Year 2018 Volume: 31 Issue: 1 |