Experimental comparison of muscle contractility after three methods of reinnervation.

A comparative study of three methods of muscle reinnervation in rabbits is presented. Nerve suture, nerve implantation, and a combination of the two methods all achieved functional recovery of microvascular muscle transplants. Contractility was nearly normal in all groups, although nerve implantation alone was less effective than those methods using nerve suture. Reasons for the difference and clinical implications are discussed.