Nerve regeneration enhancement by tourniquet.

The use of tourniquet compression as a non-invasive method to enhance axonal regeneration was assessed in the rat sciatic nerve. One hind limb of the rat was subjected to compression by a tourniquet set at 300 mmHg for 30 or 120 min followed by bilateral test crush lesions performed either directly or after a conditioning interval of 3 or 6 days, with the non-compressed side serving as a control. Axonal regeneration distances were evaluated after 3 days by the pinch reflex test. We found that compression caused an increased outgrowth length of sensory axons compared to the controls. The effect was most obvious after 120 min of compression with a conditioning interval of 6 days. Tourniquet compression has a conditioning lesion effect on peripheral nerve and may enhance nerve regeneration. Copyright 2001 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.