Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve bridged by chitosan conduit: an animal model study.

Introduction: Effect of whole body exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model was assessed.

Methods: Sixty male white Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: In transected group (TC) left sciatic nerve was transected and stumps were fixed in adjacent muscle. In chitosan group (CHIT) the defect was bridged using a chitosan conduit filled with phosphate-buffered saline.