title: Phrenic nerve neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with end-to-side neurorrhaphy: a short report in a rabbit model.
abstract: This experimental study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of end-to-side coaptation between the musculocutaneous nerve and the phrenic nerve for brachial plexus injuries with nerve-root avulsions. In an experimental rabbit model, neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with the phrenic nerve was compared using end-to-end and end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Preliminary results from electrophysiologic and histologic examinations indicate that end-to-side neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with the phrenic nerve is an effective means for musculocutaneous nerve repair. The effectiveness of the phrenic nerve is attributed to its large number of motor axons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stamatoukou
authors.forename: Ellada
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadogeorgou
authors.forename: Zijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kitty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavlakis
authors.forename: Aristides B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zoubos
authors.forename: Panayotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Soucacos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation