[An experimental study on adhesion blocking in simultaneous injury of tendon and nerve].

The formation of adhesions between simultaneously injured tendon and nerve with and without adhesion blocking materials was studied by using a rabbit model. A collagen membrane, produced from adult bovine corium and with a negative electric charge induced by chemical modification, was used as the blocking material. Microangiography and histological studies were performed to investigate the vascular supply to the adhesions. The following results were obtained. Blood vessel proliferation was observed parallel to the adhesion formation. The vessels to the adhesions originated mainly from intraneural and perineural vascular plexuses. The collagen membrane was effective in preventing the development of adhesions by restricting the blood supply. Within 5 weeks, the collagen membrane was almost absorbed, and healing of tendon and nerve was almost complete.