title: Intrinsic reinnervation--myth or reality?
abstract: A clinical and electromyographic study of major nerve transections at the wrist in 22 patients has shown that electrical recovery nearly always occurs in the intrinsic muscles, despite the absence of clinically detectable function. There appears to be a level of electrical reinnervation above which clinically detectable intrinsic muscle power is usually present. This level would appear to be 50% of the contralateral maximum evoked muscle action potential; above this the "myth" of clinical recovery becomes a reality.
authors.affiliation: RAFT Department of Research in Plastic Surgery, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000295:instrumentation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery