Side-to-side Neurorrhaphy In Low-position Of Peripgheral Never Injury For Prevention Of Atrophy In Denervated Muscles

[Objective] An experimental model of peripheral nerve injury was set up to investigate whether side-to-side neurorrhaphy in low-position of injury nerve could survive and exert beneficial influence to delay the degeneration of denervated muscles.[Methods] 24 Newzland rabbits were used and divided into A and B gourps (Dall 24 right hindlimbs were experimental side: the peroneal nerve's side, where was about 1cm from the anterior tibial muscle and far below the distal end of transection on the right upper thigh, was sutured to windowed tibial nerve in an side-to-side fashion. (2)The peroneal never on the left side was used as control, and managed in two ways: In 12 rabbits of A group , the severed ends of peroneal nerve were kept apart by suturing them into neighbouring muscle, and in 12 of B group, the nerves were left intact. Three months after operation, nerve conduction velocity and eletromyograph were performed, and then, the nerve 5mm distal to the suture site of experimental side and the nerve 5mm distal to the anterior tibial muscle of control groups were taken for measurement oftotal myelinate axon number and analyzed with histological examination, the anterior tibial muscle was taken for wet weight measurement and histological study.[Results] 1. the nerve conduction velocity could be taked with electromyography and a large number of nerve fibers were found in the distal peroneal nerve of experimental side, The above numeric values could not be recorded in denervated control whose distal end was fibrosis. The difference of muscle wet weight and fiber cross sectional area of muscles between the experimental side and the denervated control made significant difference (P<0. 01)2. the quality of regenerated fiber and the nerve conduction velocity in experimental side, that is the right side where side-to-side neurorraphy was performed, exhibited significant difference from normal control side (/><0. 01). statistically significant difference was also detected between the muscle wet weight and fiber cross sectional area of muscles on the experimental side and the normal muscles on the left side (P<0. 01).3. The form of cell and motor end plate in the experimental side was near the normal muscle comparatively, which was apparently different from the denervated control whose muscle had had serious amyotrophy.[Conclusion] Side-to-side neurorrhaphy in low-position of peripheral never injury was a valuable method of preventing atrophy of denervated muscles, which could benefit the recovery of physical function duringthe neural regeneration, but this method could not attain the function of replacing the original nerve.