Study on long-term cryopreservation and replantation of amputated limbs using liquid nitrogen.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09234
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Okada Hiroshi 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (90896721)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 河村 健二 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20445076) ; 面川 庄平 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (70597103) ; 前川 尚宜 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90596660)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: cryopreservation / replantation / liquid nitrogen

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been reported that 24 hours is the limit for replantation of an amputated finger after storage at a low temperature of 0°C. Recently, a clinical case was reported from China in which replantation of an amputated finger was possible after long-term storage by cryopreservation using liquid nitrogen. However, there is a lack of basic research on tissue damage caused by liquid nitrogen cryopreservation. In this study, amputated lower leg limbs of rats were frozen with liquid nitrogen using rapid and slow freezing methods, stored for 2 weeks, and then thawed rapidly and slowly, and each tissue was evaluated under a microscope after formalin fixation. The results showed vascular damage in both methods, and neurological damage was more severe in the rapid freezing method than in the slow freezing method.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究ではラットの切断肢を液体窒素を使用した複数の凍結法や解凍法にて長期保存を行い、顕微鏡にて組織の変化を検討した。その結果、いずれの方法でも組織障害性を認めた。