title: Comparison of reinnervation for preservation of denervated muscle volume with motor and sensory nerve: an experimental study.
abstract: Prevention of the atrophy of denervated muscles is essential for a good outcome in facial contouring and oral reconstruction. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of end-to-end and end-to-side neurorrhaphy of the motor nerve, and end-to-end neurorrhaphy of the sensory nerve, all of which are frequently used in such reconstruction for the prevention of muscle atrophy. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group 1, motor nerve division of semi-membranosus without repair; group 2, motor nerve division and end-to-end coaptation to the saphenous nerve; group 3, motor nerve division and end-to-side coaptation to the sciatic nerve; and group 4, motor nerve division and end-to-end repair. Measurement of semi-membranosus volume, histological evaluation and staining of neuromuscular junctions that were carried out 3 months postoperatively revealed that muscle volume preservation was larger in groups 3 and 4 than in the other two groups (p<0.05), but slightly superior in group 4 (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between groups 2 and 1; histologically, muscle architecture was better preserved in group 2 than in group 1; reactivation of the neuromuscular junctions was observed in all except group 1. End-to-side repair of motor nerves is one of the better options for the preservation of muscle volume when end-to-end nerve repair is not indicated. Sensory protection may also provide some advantages in the preservation of muscle volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. omoriprs@gmail.com
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omori
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: Kazunobu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashikawa
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terashi
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010784:Photomicrography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric