The role of intramuscular nerve repair in the recovery of lacerated skeletal muscles.
The repair of lacerated muscle often results in suboptimal recovery. An important cause of poor outcome is denervation of the distal segment. The rabbit medial gastrocnemius muscle laceration model was used to assess whether intramuscular nerve repair resulted in better recovery. Lacerated rabbit muscles were divided into three groups: group A had no muscle repair; group B underwent muscle repair; and group C had muscle repair with intramuscular nerve repair. At 7 months, groups A and B showed significantly greater muscle atrophy, replacement of muscle fiber with scar and adipose tissue, and change of muscle fiber type from a fast-twitch to a slow-twitch pattern compared to group C. A clinical case study subsequently demonstrated feasibility of intramuscular nerve repair; reinnervation of the distal belly led to rapid functional recovery. In conclusion, primary intramuscular nerve repair results in better functional outcomes following repair of lacerated muscles.
Lim
Aymeric Y T
AY
Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore. aymericlim@nus.edu.sg
Lahiri
Amitabha
A
Pereira
Barry P
BP
Tan
Jessie A C
JA
Sebastin
Sandeep J
SJ
Tan
Bee-Leng
BL
Zheng
Ling
L
Prem Kumar
V
V
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004576:Electromyography; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases