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The role of intramuscular nerve repair in the recovery of lacerated skeletal muscles
Author(s) -
Lim Aymeric Y. T.,
Lahiri Amitabha,
Pereira Barry P.,
Tan Jessie A. C.,
Sebastin Sandeep J.,
Tan BeeLeng,
Zheng Ling,
Prem Kumar V.
Publication year - 2006
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.20468
Subject(s) - reinnervation , medicine , nerve repair , denervation , muscle atrophy , atrophy , gastrocnemius muscle , surgery , skeletal muscle , anatomy , peripheral nerve
The repair of lacerated muscle often results in suboptimal recovery. An important cause of poor outcome is denervation of the distal segment. The rabbit medial gastrocnemius muscle laceration model was used to assess whether intramuscular nerve repair resulted in better recovery. Lacerated rabbit muscles were divided into three groups: group A had no muscle repair; group B underwent muscle repair; and group C had muscle repair with intramuscular nerve repair. At 7 months, groups A and B showed significantly greater muscle atrophy, replacement of muscle fiber with scar and adipose tissue, and change of muscle fiber type from a fast‐twitch to a slow‐twitch pattern compared to group C. A clinical case study subsequently demonstrated feasibility of intramuscular nerve repair; reinnervation of the distal belly led to rapid functional recovery. In conclusion, primary intramuscular nerve repair results in better functional outcomes following repair of lacerated muscles. Muscle Nerve, 2006