title: [The mechanism of biological adaptability of peripheral nerves during limb lengthening in rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the mechanism of subclinical damage and repairing process of peripheral nerves during gradual tibial lengthening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histological investigation, electrophysiological examination of tibial nerve and GAP-43 mRNA expression of sciatic nerve related spinal cord and ganglion were observed in 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% lengthening, and at 2, 4, 8 weeks phases after 40% limb lengthening in 80 rabbits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the increase of elongation, severer and more obvious nerve damage and stronger expression of GAP-43 mRNA happened. However, nerve regeneration occurred synchronously and the changes recovered gradually within 8 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Damage of the peripheral nerves is common during limb lengthening. But, it is temporary and recoverable in case the lengthening rate is < 1 mm/d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011817:Rabbits