The effect of topical 5-Fluorouracil application on epineural scar tissue in epineurectomized rat sciatic nerve

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 31 Sayı: 1, 1 - 10, 28.01.2018

Melekber Cavus Ozkan Betul Tuncel Guzin Yesim Ozgenel

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.342046

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Epineural scar tissue, 5-fluorouracil, Nerve adhesion

Kaynakça

• Hunter JM. Recurrentcarpaltunnelsyndrome, epineuralfibrousfixation, andtractionneuropathy. HandClin 1991;7:491-504
• Abercrombie M and Johnson ML. Collagencontent of rabbitsciatıcnerveduringwalleriandegeneration. J NeurolNeurosurgPsychiatry 1946;9:113-8.