Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37540691›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Avoiding scar tissue formation of peripheral nerves with the help of an acellular collagen matrix.

Martin Aman, Maximilian Mayrhofer-Schmid, Daniel Schwarz, Martin Bendszus, Simeon C Daeschler, Tess Klemm, Ulrich Kneser, Leila Harhaus, Arne H Boecker

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Algorithm for Surgical Management of Symptomatic Hand and Digital Neuromas.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Martin AmanDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Maximilian Mayrhofer-SchmidDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2184-8337
Daniel SchwarzDepartment of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9017-8245
Martin BendszusDepartment of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Simeon C DaeschlerDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Tess KlemmDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Ulrich KneserDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Leila HarhausDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Arne H BoeckerDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3580-8486
Heidelberg University · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionExtensive scar tissue formation after peripheral nerve injury or surgery is a common problem. To avoid perineural scarring, implanting a mechanical barrier protecting the nerve from inflammation processes in the perineural environment has shown promising results for functional recovery. This study investigates the potential of an acellular collagen-elastin matrix wrapped around a peripheral nerve after induction of scar tissue formation. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn the present study, 30 Lewis rats were separated into three groups and sciatic nerve scarring was induced with 2.5% glutaraldehyde (GA-CM) or 2.5% glutaraldehyde with a supplemental FDA-approved acellular collagen-elastin matrix application (GA+CM). Additionally, a sham group was included for control. Nerve regeneration was assessed by functional analysis using the Visual Statisc Sciatic Index (SSI) and MR neurography during the 12-week regeneration period. Histological and histomorphometry analysis were performed to evaluate the degree of postoperative scar tissue formation.

resultsHistological analysis showed an extensive scar tissue formation for GA-CM. Connective tissue ratio was significantly (p < 0.009) reduced for GA+CM (1.347 ± 0.017) compared to GA-CM (1.518 ± 0.057). Similarly, compared to GA+CM, MR-Neurography revealed extensive scar tissue formation for GA-CM with a direct connection between nerve and paraneural environment. Distal to the injury site, quantitative analysis presented significantly higher axon density (p = 0.0145), thicker axon diameter (p = 0.0002) and thicker myelinated fiber thickness (p = 0.0008) for GA+CM compared to GA-CM. Evaluation of functional recovery revealed a significantly faster regeneration for GA+CM.

conclusionThe supplemental application of an acellular collagen-elastin matrix showed beneficial effects in histological, radiological, and functional analysis. Therefore, applying a collagen-elastin matrix around the nerve after peripheral nerve injury or surgery may have beneficial effects on preventing scar tissue formation in the long run. This represents a feasible approach to avoid scar tissue formation in peripheral nerve surgery.

Indexed as

CicatrixPeripheral Nerve InjuriesAnimalsCollagenElastinGlutaralNerve RegenerationPeripheral NervesRatsRats, Inbred LewRats, Sprague-DawleySciatic NerveCollagenElastinGlutaral

Identifiers

PMID37540691
PMCPMC10403074
OpenAlexW4385567883

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.