Improvement of functional recovery of transected peripheral nerve by means of artery grafts filled with diclofenac

The objective was to assess the effect of topically administered diclofenac on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Eighty male healthy white Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 20), randomly: In transected group (TC), left sciatic nerve was transected and stumps were fixed in the adjacent muscle. In treatment group defect was bridged using an artery graft (AG/DICLO) filled with 10 μL diclofenac (0.1 mg/kg). In artery graft group (AG), the graft was filled with phosphate-buffered saline alone. In sham-operated group (SHAM), sciatic nerve was exposed and manipulated. Each group was subdivided into four subgroups of five animals each and regenerated nerve fibers were studied 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after surgery. Behavioral testing, sciatic nerve functional study, gastrocnemius muscle mass and morphometric indices confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in AG/DICLO than AG group (p < 0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in AG/DICLO was clearly more positive than that in AG group. When loaded in an artery graft, diclofenac improved functional recovery and morphometric indices of sciatic nerve. Topical application of this readily available agent offers the benefit of cost savings as well as avoiding the complications associated with systemic administration.