Nerve regeneration in diabetic rats

This study evaluated the capacity of diabetic rats to recover the ability to walk after nerve repair or nerve graft of the posterior tibial nerve at thigh level. Functional recovery of the posterior tibial nerve was evaluated by walking track analysis during regeneration in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Surgical procedures were performed 8 weeks after induction of diabetes. The nerve repair was epineurial. The nerve graft was a 1.5 cm segment orthotopically replaced. There was no significant difference in functional recovery between normal and diabetic rats for both the nerve repair and nerve graft groups at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after nerve reconstruction. It is concluded that the presence of diabetes is not a contraindication for nerve reconstruction.