Table 4.
Characterization of Regenerated Tissue Within the Grafts 120 Days Post Surgery.
| Group | Category 1: Substantial/2 cables |
Category 2: Thin |
Category 3: Very thin |
Category 4: No regenerated tissue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANG | 6/6 (100%) | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) |
| CNG+HA | 1/5 (20%) | 2/5 (40%) | 0/8 (0%) | 2/5 (40%) |
| CNG+HAL | 2/8 (25%) | 0/8 (0%) | 5/8 (62.5%) | 1/8 (12.5%) |
| CNG+HAL +SC | 0/8 (0%) | 3/8 (37.5%) | 4/8 (50%) | 1/8 (12.5%) |
| CNG+HAL+FGF2-SC | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) | 2/8 (25%) | 6/8 (75%) |
| CNG[F]+HA | 4/5 (80%) | 1/5 (20%) | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) |
| CNG[F]+HAL | 7/8 (87.5%) | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) | 1/8 (12.5%) |
| CNG[F]+HAL+SC | 3/7 (42.9%) | 2/7 (28.6%) | 2/7 (28.6%) | 0/8 (0%) |
| CNG[F]+HAL+FGF2-SC | 3/8 (37.5%) | 5/8 (62.5%) | 0/8 (0%) | 0/8 (0%) |
Contents of regrown tissue within the nerve grafts were examined macroscopically and categorized into formation of substantial tissue/two tissue cables (second column, category 1), thin (third column, category 2), very thin (fourth column, category 3), and no regenerated tissue (fifth column, category 5). Numbers of animals displaying tissue recovery within a respective category are shown as numbers/total number of animals in the group; in brackets the related percentage is indicated.
ANG: autologous nerve graft; CNG: chitosan-based nerve graft; FGF-2: fibroblast growth factor 2; HA: hyaluronic acid; HAL: hyaluronic acid–laminin hydrogel; SC: Schwann cell.