Altered behavioural responses and functional recovery in rats following sciatic nerve compression and early vs late decompression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine sensory behaviour and functional recovery in rats during nerve compression and after decompression. Compression injury is a far more common condition than nerve transection. The condition is characterised by numbness and a tingling/burning sensation, and some patients experience pain and allodynia during compression or after decompression treatment. The aetiology is in many cases unknown. Thus, further studies are of great importance for the understanding of this condition.


METHODS
In the present study, behavioural responses to tactile stimulation, thermal pain, as well as functional sensorimotor behaviour were investigated in rats before, during severe compression, and after decompression. The sciatic nerve of the rats was experimentally compressed for 3 or 28 days, whereafter surgical release, i.e. decompression, of the nerve was performed and the rats were examined up to ∼9 weeks.


RESULTS
An altered behaviour was found in response to compression injury, which is mitigated after early decompression treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that early intervention during severe compression injuries is of great importance for recovery and restoration of nerve function and, thus, should have an impact on clinical routines regarding treatment of compression injuries.
a Department of Experimental Medical Science, Neuronano Research Center , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
Lina M E
LM
Pettersson
a Department of Experimental Medical Science, Neuronano Research Center , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
Nils
N
Danielsen
b Department of Translational Medicine - Hand Surgery , Lund University, Skåne University Hospital , Malmö , Sweden.
Lars B
LB
Dahlin
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking
Nerve injury; allodynia; decompression; hyperalgesia; nerve compression; pain; sensorimotor behaviour