BACKGROUND:In the treatment of peripheral nerve injury, we can use autologous nerve or the nerve conduit of different materials. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of biodegradable nerve conduit in repairing peripheral nerve injury. METHODS:A total of 48 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into autologous nerve graft group, silicone catheter group and biodegradable nerve conduit group. 10-mm sciatic nerve was obtained from each group to construct animal models of sciatic nerve defect, which was repaired with autologous nerve, silicone catheter and biodegradable nerve conduit. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 3 weeks after transplantation, motor nerve conduction and recovery rate of triceps muscle wet weight were poorer in the silicone catheter group than in the autologous nerve graft group. Motor nerve conduction and recovery rate of triceps muscle wet weight were similar between the biodegradable nerve conduit group and autologous nerve graft group. At 12 weeks, a large number of uniform myelinated nerve fiber was visible in the autologous nerve graft group. A large number of uneven myelinated nerve fiber was found in the biodegradable nerve conduit group. A smal number of uneven myelinated nerve fiber was seen in the silicone catheter group. These data suggest that the synthetic biodegradable materials of nerve conduit can obtain good effect, which is close to the autologous nerve graft.