Controlled Trial of Efficacy of Dexketoprofen in Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury in Rats

Object: Local applications of Dexketoprofen trometamol (dex) have been shown to increase in the sciatic nerve functional tests following the nerve injuries. The aim of the current study was to compare the efficacy of dex application for 1 and 5 days following nerve injury rat model. Possible effects of dex were checked by means of the Sciatic Function Index (SFI), Withdrawal of the Reflex Leg (WRL), number of axons, axon diameter, and nerve diameters. Material Methods: The animal crushed model was done through Aesculap -Yasargil aneurysm method on Wistar albino (N=21) right sciatic nerves. In order to achieve desired purpose 3 experimental groups were organized: Group 1: control (injured and no drug); Group2: dexketoprofen 1 days (injured and single dose of drug); Group3: dexketoprofen 5 days (injured and single dose of 5 times drug applications). Injections were done through the tissue expander's injection port with a connecting tube directed at the crush-injured site. Functional recovery of the sciatic nerves was evaluated with the improvement in the SFI values. Additionally, recovery of sensory function was assessed through WRL results and histopathological examination was performed 6 week following the injury. Results: At the end of the experimental periods there was no significant differences were found between the experimental group of animals on the bases of the number of axons, axon diameter, and nerve diameter. Moreover, up 30th day of the experimental period our functional test results have shown that there was no difference between the groups. But following the induction of the injury, the statistical significances were seen on the functional tests. This effect was seen only if the multi-dose application of the dex. Conclusions: This study suggests that; dexketoprofen trometamol of 5 consecutive days, has revealed positive significant changes in the sciatic nerve injury through analgesic effect of it.