title: Tibial and fibular nerves evaluation using intraoperative electromyography in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a new model of intraoperative electromyographic (EMG) assessment of the tibial and fibular nerves, and its respectives motor units in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight Wistar rats underwent intraoperative EMG on both hind limbs at two different moments: week 0 and week 12. Supramaximal electrical stimulation applied on sciatic nerve, and compound muscle action potential recorded on the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDLM) through electrodes at specifics points. Motor function assessment was performaced through Walking Track Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposing the muscles and nerves for examination did not alter tibial (p=0.918) or fibular (p=0.877) function between the evaluation moments. Electromyography of the GM, innervated by the tibial nerve, revealed similar amplitude (p=0.069) and latency (p=0.256) at week 0 and at 12 weeks, creating a standard of normality. Meanwhile, electromyography of the EDLM, innervated by the fibular nerve, showed significant differences between the amplitudes (p=0.003) and latencies (p=0.021) at the two different moments of observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative electromyography determined and quantified gastrocnemius muscle motor unit integrity, innervated by tibial nerve. Although this study was not useful to, objectively, assess extensor digitorum longus muscle motor unit, innervated by fibular nerve.
authors: MD, Plastic Surgeon, Fellow PhD degree, General Surgery Program, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil. Design the protocol, scientific content of the study, technical procedures, manuscript preparation and writing, English language.
authors: André Coelho
authors: AC
authors: Nepomuceno
authors: Graduate student, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; technical procedures.
authors: Elisa Landucci
authors: EL
authors: Politani
authors: Graduate student, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; technical procedures.
authors: Eduardo Guandelini da
authors: EG
authors: Silva
authors: PhD, Otorhinolaryngologist, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Design the protocol; technical procedures; acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; manuscript writing; critical revision.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Salomone
authors: PhD, Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Technical procedures, analysis of data.
authors: Marco Vinicius Losso
authors: MV
authors: Longo
authors: PhD, Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Analysis of data, manuscript writing, critical revision.
authors: Alessandra Grassi
authors: AG
authors: Salles
authors: Full Professor, Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Intellectual and scientific content of the study, critical revision.
authors: José Carlos Marques de
authors: JC
authors: Faria
authors: Chairman and Head, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, USP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Intellectual and scientific content of the study.
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Gemperli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*