['The objective of the study was to assess the effect of topically administered betamethasone on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery after sciatic nerve transection in the rat.', 'Forty-five healthy male white Wistar rats were divided into 3 experimental groups (n = 15), randomly. In the treatment group, a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged by use of an inside-out vein graft filled with 10 μL betamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) (IOVG/BETA group). In the control group, the vein was filled with phosphate-buffered saline solution alone (IOVG group). In the sham surgery group, the sciatic nerve was exposed with no further deleterious manipulations (SHAM group). Each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups of 5 animals each, and the regenerated nerve fibers were studied 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery.', 'Functional study confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in the IOVG/BETA group than in the IOVG group (P < .05). Gastrocnemius muscle mass in the IOVG/BETA group was found to be significantly greater than that in the IOVG group (P < .05). Morphometric indices of the regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in the IOVG/BETA group than in the control group (P < .05). By use of immunohistochemistry, the location of reactions to S-100 in IOVG/BETA was clearly more positive than that in the IOVG group.'] Does betamethasone-enhanced vein graft conduit accelerate functional recovery in the rat sciatic nerve gap?