Assessment of intraneural oxygen tension and blood flow in a mobilized peripheral-nerve model.
Extensive mobilization of injured peripheral nerves is often required to allow a tension-free repair. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical mobilization and division on intraneural blood flow and oxygen tension in a rat sciatic nerve model. The right and left sciatic nerves were exposed in male Lewis rats Four experimental groups were studied: 1) nerve in situ/intact (n=7); 2) nerve mobilized and intact (n=7); 3) nerve in situ/divided (n=7); and 4) nerve mobilized and divided (n=7). Intraneural oxygen tension and blood flow were measured postoperatively. Mean oxygen tension (mmHg) in mobilized/intact nerves (17.47+/-4.79) was significantly lower than in in situ/intact nerves (38.32+/-5.16) [p < 0.05]. Mean oxygen tension in mobilized/divided nerves (3.10+/-1.25) was significantly lower than in in situ/divided nerves (30.30+/-6.36) [p < 0.005]. Laser Doppler flow (ml/min/100 g) in mobilized divided nerves (11.31+/-1.81) was significantly lower than in in situ/divided nerves (25.60+/-3.31) [p < 0.05]. Laser Doppler flow in mobilized/intact nerves was not statistically significantly different from in situ/intact nerves. Mobilization of the extrinsic blood supply was shown to significantly lower intraneura) oxygen tension and laser Doppler flow in mobilized intact and divided rat peripheral nerves.
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas 89102, USA.
M K
MK
Gingrass
D D
DD
Lozano
R E
RE
Brown
L L
LL
Stephenson
W A
WA
Zamboni
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery