Adverse effects of saline neurolysis on a chronically compressed rat sciatic nerve.

We have evaluated the effect of saline neurolysis compared with a simple decompression procedure on chronically compressed sciatic nerves in rats. Eight months after the initiation of nerve compression within a silicone tube, rats were divided into three groups of 35. In group I, saline was injected subepineurially at the compressed segment of the nerve after removal of the tube (decompression plus saline neurolysis). The nerves in group II were treated by removal of the tube only (simple decompression). In group III the tubes were left in place. Adding saline neurolysis to decompression provided no histological, morphometric, electrophysiological, or vascular advantages up to four months, and even gave worse results than simple decompression. We conclude that saline neurolysis has no beneficial effect on a chronically compressed nerve and it is not recommended for clinical use.