Peripheral nerve elongation by laser Doppler flowmetry controlled expansion: functional and neurophysiological aspects.
A new method for elongation of peripheral nerves with preservation of function is presented. Nerve blood flow during experimental nerve expansion of rabbit sciatic nerve is controlled by laser Doppler flowmetry in order to avoid nerve ischemia. Using this method, nerve function in relation to gait remained intact in 72.5% of the animals and recovered within 3 weeks in the others. Disturbances in toe-spread reflex recovered completely in all animals after 3 weeks. Significant nerve elongation up to 40% is possible with preservation of function when nerve blood flow is controlled by laser Doppler flowmetry.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
L P
LP
van der Wey
T W
TW
Polder
M H
MH
Merks
D F
DF
Stegeman
D H
DH
Vingerhoets
A A
AA
Gabrëels-Festen
P H
PH
Spauwen
F J
FJ
Gabrëels
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure