Nerve conduit using fascia-wrapped fibrocollagenous tube.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of autogenous fascia as a framework of a fibrocollagen tube for a nerve conduit in Japanese white rabbits. The fascia was wrapped with a double layer around a silicone rod 3.0 mm in diameter. After the implantation of the fascia-wrapped silicone rod into a subcutaneous pocket for 2 weeks, a 3.0 x 30-mm fascia-wrapped fibrocollagen (FFC) tube was prepared. With microvascular techniques, the tube was interposed into a right sciatic nerve gap which was 25 mm long. The results of nerve regeneration in the FFC tube group, in particular, the formation of epineurium, were able to stand comparison with the results of a control group under both histologic and electron micrographic examination.