Turkish Neurosurgery
Effect of axonal length on direct neuromuscular neurotization: An experimental study
musakemal keleş1, andaç aykan2
1dışkapı training hospital, plastik cerrahi, Ankara,
2Gülhane training hospital, plastic surgery, ankara,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.22981-18.2

Aim:Neuromuscular neurotization (NMN) is the inevitable treatment option for nerve repair when other reconstruction methods are impossible. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of long and short axonal lengths on NMN.Material and Methods:In this study, 18 male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. In each group, the peroneal nerve and soleus muscle were dissected. In group 1, the muscle was neurotized after the peroneal nerve was dissected until bifurcation. In group 2, the nerve was transected 1 cm proximal from the most distal site, and the muscle was neurotized with a shorter nerve than that in group 1.Results:In group 2 (0.84), the compound muscle action potential amplitude ratio was statistically higher than that in group 1 (0.42). Upon pathological examination, the cross-sectional area was statistically larger in group 2. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels in groups 1 and 2 were 37.73 and 45.47, respectively.Conclusion:Considering that NMN with shorter axons showed better results than that with longer axons, in clinical applications, nerve transfers using nerves as short as possible are preferred.

Corresponding author : musakemal keleş