Premium
Biodegradable p(DLLA‐ϵ‐CL) nerve guides versus autologous nerve grafts: Electromyographic and video analysis
Author(s) -
Meek Marcel F.,
Van Der Werff John F.A.,
Nicolai JeanPhilipe A.,
Gramsbergen Albert
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.1066
Subject(s) - medicine , electromyography , sciatic nerve , motor nerve , gait , bridging (networking) , anatomy , epineurial repair , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , computer network
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional effects of bridging a gap in the sciatic nerve of the rat with either a biodegradable copolymer of DL ‐lactide and ϵ‐caprolactone [p(DLLA‐ϵ‐CL)] nerve guide or an autologous nerve graft. Electromyograms (EMGs) of the gastrocnemius (GC) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were recorded 3.5 and 5 months after bridging the nerve gaps. Furthermore, the rats' gait was recorded on video and the quality of the gait was analyzed. EMG patterns of the contralateral nonoperated side were essentially normal. The EMG patterns on the operated side were irregular in all animals, but the quality of gait was better in the nerve guide group. We conclude that the surgical technique (nerve guide or nerve graft) does not influence the occurrence of abnormal EMG patterns, but gait improves to a greater extent when the nerve gap is bridged by a nerve guide. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 753–759, 2001