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J Reconstr Microsurg 2004; 20(6): 483-488
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-833504
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Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Muscle Flap Mass Preservation with End-to-Side Neurorrhaphy: An Experimental Study

Tanya M. Oswald1 , Feng Zhang1 , Man-Ping Lei1 , Jacob Gerzenshtein1 , William C. Lineaweaver1
  • 1Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted: 22 March 2004

Publication Date:
09 September 2004 (online)

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The authors examined the preservation of rat gracilis muscle flap mass after motor and sensory end-to-side neurorrhaphy. The rat gracilis muscle flap model was designed based on a previous study. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. In Group 1 (n = 8), the flap was denervated by transecting the obturator nerve. In Group 2 (n = 8), the flap was reinnervated by coapting the proximal saphenous nerve to the distal obturator nerve. In Group 3 (n = 8), the flap was reinnervated by coapting the motor branch of the femoral nerve to the distal stump of the obturator nerve. At 6 months postoperatively, the gracilis muscle flaps were examined, harvested, and weighed individually. Results showed that the flaps with motor nerve reinnervation retained good bulk, with a weight of 634.0 ± 65.1 gm, which was statistically significantly higher than the denervated group (457.5 ± 125.3 gm, p < 0.01). However, muscle mass preservation in the sensory reinnervated group (606.9 ± 209.1 gm) was not significantly different, compared to the denervated group. Histology revealed atrophic changes in the denervated group, compared to the sensory and motor-reinnervated groups. The authors concluded that muscle mass can be preserved by end-to-side nerve repair. Motor nerve reinnervation is able to better arrest atrophic changes of the muscle flaps.

KEYWORDS

End-to-side neurorrhaphy - muscle reinnervation

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William C LineaweaverM.D. 

Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center

2500 North State Street

Jackson, MS 39216

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