title: Motor Nerve Recovery in a Rabbit Model: Description and Validation of a Noninvasive Ultrasound Technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate a noninvasive ultrasound technique for the longitudinal analysis of functional recovery after segmental peroneal nerve reconstruction in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male New Zealand White rabbits underwent a 1-cm peroneal nerve autograft reconstruction. Ultrasound measurements were performed before surgery and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks postoperatively. All rabbits were managed with manual restraint for the ultrasound procedure, avoiding the risks of anesthetics. At 12 and 16 weeks, we evaluated functional recovery using compound muscle action potential, isometric tetanic force measurements, wet muscle weight, and nerve histomorphometry. Data were compared with ultrasound measurements by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. We determined intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the ultrasound measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasound demonstrated good correlation with isometric tetanic force measurements and wet muscle weight, good correlation with nerve histomorphometry, and moderate correlation with compound muscle action potential. Both intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the ultrasound technique was excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound analysis of the tibialis anterior muscle provided a reliable method for analysis of functional recovery in a rabbit peroneal nerve reconstruction model. The noninvasive nature allowed for longitudinal follow-up within the same animal and measurement of early recovery without the use of anesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of this noninvasive technique can reduce the variability and sample size necessary in peripheral nerve reconstruction studies and may provide an ideal tool for comparative studies in larger animal models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microvascular Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liselotte F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bulstra
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microvascular Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hundepool
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microvascular Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Patricia F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tim H J
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nijhuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microvascular Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Allen T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microvascular Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address: shin.alexander@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts; D004576:Electromyography; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Autograft; peripheral nerve injury; rabbit; tibial muscle; ultrasound