Effects of topically administered FK506 on sciatic nerve regeneration and reinnervation after vein graft repair of short nerve gaps.

Object: Despite the development of various nerve coaptation materials and techniques, achievement of desired functional peripheral nerve regeneration is still inadequate, and repair of peripheral nerve injuries is still one of the most challenging tasks and concerns in neurosurgery. The effect of an FK506-loaded vein graft as an in situ delivery system for FK506 in bridging the defects was studied using a rat sciatic nerve regeneration model.

Methods: A 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using an inside-out vein graft (IOVG) filled with 10 μl of a carrier-drug dilution (10 ng/ml FK506) in the IOVG/FK506 group.