title: The embracing end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare two new methods with the traditional end-to-side neurorrhaphy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into four groups. In A-L group the peroneal nerve was sectioned and the distal stump was connected to the lateral of the tibial nerve (donor) with two 10-0 nylon points. In A-R group two perineurium flaps embraced the donor nerve. In the B-R group a suture embraced the donor nerve. Group B-L was the control. After six months tibial cranial muscle mass and morphometry of the distal stump of the peroneal nerve were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle mass in groups A-R, A-L and B-R were lower than B-L group (p<0.0001) an equal between themselves (p>0.05). Groups A-R, B-R and A-L had a lower number of nerve fibers when compared with B-L (p=0.0155, p=0.016, p=0.0021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three types of neurorrhaphy showed no differences related to muscle mass and number of nerve fibers suggesting that the embracing with a single suture has great potential due its simplicity and usefulness in deep areas.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Division, Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP, Brazil. fv@faustoviterbo.com.br
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viterbo
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Salvio
authors.forename: Beatriz Lotufo
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Griva
authors.forename: Fábio Oliveira
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Maciel
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation