Impiego del modello animale ovino per la messa a punto di innovativi protocolli terapeutici per il trattamento delle lesioni del nervo periferico

Background:The results of current treatments for multiple peripheral nerve injuries are not fully satisfactory. The lack of an adequate animal model is one of the main problems in brachial plexus research. A new concept of nerve-guide, called "NeuroBox" (NBX), double-halved, not-degradable and rigid, and does not require the use of any stitch to be sutured to the nerve stump have been recently proposed. Our hypothesis is to treat brachial plexus lesions as they are occurring in a single big plexiform peripheral nerve and NBX could provide protection and guidance to nerves stump.Aim:To verify the sheep as animal model in brachial plexus regeneration and test NBX for treating multiple nerve lesions.Matherial and Methods:Pilot study: n°2 Sarda sheep. Operative technique, device dimensions, experimental lesions comparable in Humans were evaluated. Experimental study: n°8 Sarda sheep received the section of the thoracic nerve roots, NBX was positioned. Animals were randomly divided in two groups and were clinically evaluated for 10 and 32 weeks respectively. Histological and immune-histochemistry were performed.Discussion and Results:N°4 animals completed the study. No scar tissue between the distal and proximal nerve stumps was observed in histological evaluation. Nerve regeneration was observed with tiny vessels dispersed into the regenerated. Ovine can be used as animal model. NBX can provide a suitable regeneration chamber in nerve lesions.