End-to-side neurorrhaphy repairs peripheral nerve injury: sensory nerve induces motor nerve regeneration

Neural Regeneration Research, 2017 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.217350 · Published: October 1, 2017

Simple Explanation

End-to-side neurorrhaphy involves connecting a damaged nerve to the side of a healthy, adjacent nerve. This study aimed to see if sensory nerves could stimulate motor nerve regeneration after this procedure. The experiment demonstrated that motor neuron regeneration did occur after cutaneous nerve end-to-side neurorrhaphy.

Study Duration

5 months

Participants

30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Acetylcholinesterase staining showed that 34% of myelinated axons were stained in the end-to-side group.
2
Retrograde tracing showed 21% motor neuron regeneration from cutaneous antebrachii medialis nerve.
3
No motor neurons were found in the spinal cord of the sham and transected nerve groups.

Research Summary

This study investigates whether sensory nerves can induce motor nerve regeneration after end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats. The results showed motor neuron regeneration occurred after cutaneous nerve end-to-side neurorrhaphy, suggesting a lack of strict motor-sensory specificity. The findings contribute to understanding motor-sensory specificity after end-to-side neurorrhaphy, using acetylcholinesterase staining and retrograde neuron tracing.

Practical Implications

Alternative Nerve Repair

End-to-side nerve repair can be used for certain nerve damage, especially for surgeons confronted with a defect of a long segment of nerve.

Motor Reinnervation

End-to-side nerve repair of a sensory nerve gives rise to successful motor nerve reinnervation.

Motor-Sensory Specificity

The study shows no marked motor-sensory specificity after end-to-side neurorrhaphy of a sensory nerve recipient.

Study Limitations

1
Efficiency and functional recovery of motor and sensory fibers were not tested.
2
Further experiments with end-to-side neurorrhaphy of a motor nerve recipient as a control experiment are needed.
3
Tests of function need to be performed.

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