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.
Gingrass
M K
MK
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas 89102, USA.
Lozano
D D
DD
Brown
R E
RE
Stephenson
L L
LL
Zamboni
W A
WA
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