Abstract
Objective: Our aim in this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), methylprednisolone (MP), and combined HBO-MP treatments on traumatic facial nerve regeneration by histopathological examination of the facial nerve in rats.
Method: Four groups of rats were created with 5 subjects in each group after exposure to facial nerve injury: group 1 (HBO), group 2 (control), group 3 (HBO-MP), and group 4 (MP). Sacrified specimens were examined according to axonal degeneration, vascular congestion, macrovacuolization, axon diameter, and the thickness of myelin sheath.
Results: There was significant difference regarding axonal degeneration, vascular congestion, and axon diameter between group 3 (combined HBO-MP) and the control group. Besides lesser axonal degeneration and vascular congestion, larger diameter of axons were observed in group 3 (combined HBO-MP). There was significant difference regarding vascular congestion and axon diameter between group 4 (MP) and the control group. Furthermore, we observed thicker myelin and lesser axonal degeneration in group 3 (combined HBO-MP) in comparison to the group 4 (MP). However, there was no significant difference in the histopathological findings between group 1 (HBO) and the control group.
Conclusion: The histopathological results in our study suggested that the combination therapy with HBO and MP had additive beneficial effect on the regeneration of facial nerve in an experimental animal model and may provide better treatment outcomes than isolated MP or HBO therapy.
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