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Fiber regeneration in nerve grafts without connection to a target muscle: An experimental study in rabbits
Author(s) -
Koller Rupert,
Frey Manfred,
Meier Urs,
Liegl Christian,
Gruber Helmut,
Meyer Viktor E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.1920140809
Subject(s) - medicine , regeneration (biology) , connection (principal bundle) , muscle fibre , nerve repair , anatomy , surgery , peripheral nerve , skeletal muscle , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , structural engineering , engineering
Abstract In 30 rabbits, both saphenous nerves were harvested as autografts and coapted to the branch for the rectus femoris muscle without connection to any distal target muscle. The graft from the right thigh was led to the contralateral extremity (crossover grafting). The graft on the left side remained on the same extremity (ipsilateral grafting). Animals were separated into four groups and were sacrificed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after grafting. Specimens of the grafts and the donor motor branches were harvested for histomorphometric examination. The number of myelinated nerve fibers in the distal end of the nerve grafts was significantly increasing from 3 to 6 months after grafting and remained on a relatively constant level in the long‐term groups. Three months after the first operation, greater numbers of myelinated nerve fibers were counted after ipsilateral grafting than after crossover grafting. In the long‐term groups, this difference could not be observed. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss Inc.