Experimental stretch neuropathy. Changes in nerve conduction under tension.
We developed an animal model of stretch injury to nerve in order to study in vivo conduction changes as a function of nerve strain. In 24 rabbits, the tibial nerve was exposed and stretched by 0%, 6% or 12% of its length. The strain was maintained for one hour. Nerve conduction was monitored during the period of stretch and for a one-hour recovery period. At 6% strain, the amplitude of the action potential had decreased by 70% at one hour and returned to normal during the recovery period. At 12% strain, conduction was completely blocked by one hour, and showed minimal recovery. These findings have clinical implications in nerve repair, limb trauma, and limb lengthening.
Wall
E J
EJ
Department of Orthopaedics, UCSD Medical Center 92103.
Massie
J B
JB
Kwan
M K
MK
Rydevik
B L
BL
Myers
R R
RR
Garfin
S R
SR
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology