title: Long-term recovery of muscle strength after denervation in the fibular division of the sciatic nerve.
abstract: The probability and degree of muscle recovery after lesions of long peripheral nerves have not been assessed quantitatively.
  
  
  
  Twelve adults with closed injuries of the fibular division of the sciatic nerve with complete denervation of associated muscles were followed-up for 2-10 years. The onset of reinnervation was detected electromyographically. Calf circumference and maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of foot dorsiflexion were measured on both sides during 2-4 visits.
  
  
  
  Reinnervation occurred in 11 patients after an average of 13 months. MVIC on the affected side was 2%-27% of that on the unaffected side (average 11%) and remained stable for the following 2-3 years. Correlations and mixed-model regressions confirmed that the degree of recovery was negatively associated with duration of denervation.
  
  
  
  Reinnervation occurs in about 90% of patients within about 1 year. About 10% of baseline dorsiflexion strength is permanently recovered, which is functionally relevant. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: -, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 702-708, 2016.
authors.affiliation: University Rehabilitation Institute, Linhartova 51, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefancic
authors.affiliation: University Rehabilitation Institute, Linhartova 51, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. gaj.vidmar@ir-rs.si.|Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. gaj.vidmar@ir-rs.si.|Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia. gaj.vidmar@ir-rs.si.
authors.forename: Gaj
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vidmar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blagus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: blunt injury; long-term recovery; motor neurons; muscle strength; reinnervation; sciatic nerve