Ye Jiang1, Li Wang2, Jie Lao3, Xin Zhao1. 1. Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hand Reconstruction, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Hand Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. 3. Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Hand Reconstruction, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xlcrystal87@gmail.com.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the treatment outcome of nerve transfer using intercostal nerves (ICNs) or contralateral C7 (cC7) root in rats. METHODS: Ninety adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 30 each: group A (cC7 root transfer), group B (ICNs transfer), and group C (control). Electrophysiological examination, muscle tension test, neuromorphology, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area measurements obtained from the three groups were compared to evaluate neurotization outcome 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Median nerve regeneration and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle functional recovery of group B were worse than group A from comparison of both groups' parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotization of ICNs to the lower trunk is difficult to replace cC7 root transfer to the median nerve for restoration of hand function in total brachial plexus injury (BPI). Therefore, at present, the more important implication of the comparative study is that traditional cC7 root transfer remains the mainstay strategy to repair forearm flexor muscle function.
AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the treatment outcome of nerve transfer using intercostal nerves (ICNs) or contralateral C7 (cC7) root in rats. METHODS: Ninety adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 30 each: group A (cC7 root transfer), group B (ICNs transfer), and group C (control). Electrophysiological examination, muscle tension test, neuromorphology, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area measurements obtained from the three groups were compared to evaluate neurotization outcome 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Median nerve regeneration and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle functional recovery of group B were worse than group A from comparison of both groups' parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotization of ICNs to the lower trunk is difficult to replace cC7 root transfer to the median nerve for restoration of hand function in total brachial plexus injury (BPI). Therefore, at present, the more important implication of the comparative study is that traditional cC7 root transfer remains the mainstay strategy to repair forearm flexor muscle function.