title: Effect of Collateral Sprouting on Donor Nerve Function After Nerve Coaptation: A Study of the Brachial Plexus.
abstract: BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate the donor nerve from the C7 spinal nerve of the rabbit brachial plexus after a coaptation procedure. Assessment was performed of avulsion of the C5 and C6 spinal nerves treated by coaptation of these nerves to the C7 spinal nerve. MATERIAL AND METHODS After nerve injury, fourteen rabbits were treated by end-to-side coaptation (ETS), and fourteen animals were treated by side-to-side coaptation (STS) on the right brachial plexus. Electrophysiological and histomorphometric analyses and the skin pinch test were used to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the G-ratio proximal and distal to the coaptation in the ETS group, but the differences in the axon, myelin sheath and fiber diameters were statistically significant. The comparison of the ETS and STS groups distal to the coaptation with the controls demonstrated statistically significant differences in the fiber, axon, and myelin sheath diameters. With respect to the G-ratio, the ETS group exhibited no significant differences relative to the control, whereas the G-ratio in the STS group and the controls differed significantly. In the electrophysiological study, the ETS and STS groups exhibited major changes in the biceps and subscapularis muscles. CONCLUSIONS The coaptation procedure affects the histological structure of the nerve donor, but it does not translate into changes in nerve conduction or the sensory function of the limb. The donor nerve lesion in the ETS group is transient and has minimal clinical relevance.
authors: Department of Traumatology, Clinic of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Pawel
authors: P
authors: Reichert
authors: Department of Surgery, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Zdzisław
authors: Z
authors: Kiełbowicz
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Dzięgiel
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Bartosz
authors: B
authors: Puła
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Wrzosek
authors: Centre of Veterinary Medicine JU-UAK, The University of Agriculture, Cracow, Poland.
authors: Aneta
authors: A
authors: Bocheńska
authors: Department of Traumatology, Clinic of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Gosk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011817:Rabbits