Immediate return of nerve function following microsurgical repair.
The conduction of motor nerve impulses across the suture line of microsurgically repaired peripheral nerves has previously been demonstrated. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that such conducted impulses would produce physiological responses in the limb distally. Studies of nerve conduction, muscle motor unit activity and paw tremor were carried out before and after division and repair of the sciatic nerves of nine New Zealand white rabbits. The results indicated that immediately after nerve repair stimulation of the proximal nerve can result in physiological neuromuscular responses distally.
Grace
P A
PA
St Laurence's Hospital, Dublin.
Augustine
S
S
Lynch
G
G
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008866:Microsurgery; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011817:Rabbits; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*