title: Efficacy of the end-to-side neurorrhaphies with epineural window and partial donor neurectomy in peripheral nerve repair: an experimental study in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy was a useful tool in peripheral nerve repair and "baby-sitter" procedure. The study was designed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of ETS with epineurial window and 40% partial donor neurectomy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 Lewis rats were divided into three groups (n = 20, each group): following peroneal nerve transection, rats in Group A underwent end-to-end neurorrhaphy; rats in Group B underwent ETS neurorrhaphy of the distal peroneal nerve stump to an epineurial window on the tibial nerve; and rats in Group C underwent ETS neurorrhaphy of the distal peroneal nerve stump to the tibial nerve with 40% partial neurectomy. At 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after surgery, electrophysiology, muscle tension, myelinated fiber regeneration, cross-sectional area of muscular fiber, and muscle weight were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histology exhibited apparently increased number and size of myelinated fibers in peroneal nerves in Group C, compared with those in Group B. More superior recovery was demonstrated in the electrophysiology and axon regeneration of the peroneal nerves, as well as the maintenance of muscle force, wet weight, and fiber size of the anterior tibial muscles in Group C than those in Group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ETS neurorrhaphy with partial donor neurectomy can achieve higher efficacy in functional and structural recovery of the recipient system. This study provides the evidence of long-term follow-up for the further investigation of ETS neurorrhaphies with different modalities in peripheral nerve repair and in "baby-sitter" procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zeng-Gan
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: JMS Burn and Reconstructive Center, Jackson, Mississippi.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lineaweaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004576:Electromyography; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew