[Nerve regeneration through vascularized muscle autograft].
Nerve regeneration through a vascularized muscle autograft was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. The electrophysiological evaluation, progressive ultrastructural observation and advanced image analysis system were employed to asses the nerve regeneration process at selected intervals postoperatively. The regenerating axons concentrated into bundles to establish 'Regenerating Nerve Units', in contact with the inner or outer surface of the muscle basement membrane. Regeneration through a vascularized muscle graft was equivalent to autogenous nerve graft. The feasible use of free muscle transfer or transplantation is also discussed. It is concluded that vascularized muscle graft can facilitate and guide the regeneration, especially in clinical repair of large gaps of a major nerve.
Wang
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*