title: Initial evaluation of variable graft lengths and lesion lengths in the repair of nerve gaps.
abstract: This experiment evaluated the electrical and histologic differences between two groups of rats, one of which underwent same-length bilateral resection of posterior tibial nerves prior to being repaired with grafts of different lengths, while the other group underwent different-length resections with same-length graft repair. In this rat model, 18 animals were used and divided into two groups. The first group of animals underwent bilateral resection of 8-mm segments of posterior tibial nerve. To repair these nerves, one leg received two 8-mm sural nerve grafts (Group A), while the other leg received two 16-mm sural nerve grafts (Group B). The second group of rats underwent posterior tibial nerve resections of 8 mm and 16 mm, respectively. The leg with the 8 mm of posterior tibial nerve resected, received two side-by-side 16-mm sural nerve grafts (Group C); the other leg with 16 mm resected, received two 16-mm sural nerve grafts (Group D). Electrophysiologic comparison of nerve conduction velocity for Groups A and B showed a significant difference (p less than 0.05), as did the same comparison for Groups C and D (p less than 0.05). Histologic studies showed that Groups A and D had marked extrafascicular escape of the regenerating nerve axons, disorganizational growth of minifascicles, and loss of integrity of the donor fascicles, while Groups B and C had very minimal extrafascicular escape of regenerating axons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70121.
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: S E
authors: SE
authors: Connolly
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Voorhies
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Beuerman
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: Kline
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*