Reinnervation of Denervated Muscle by Nerve Transplantation

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that denervated muscles can be reinnervated by certain types of nerve transplantation.

In experimental work on the muscles of 24 dogs, the following muscles were investigated: flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum sublimis, flexor carpi radialis, tibialis anterior, peroneals longus, and extensor communis digitorum. In this experiment, the nerve supply for each of the muscles mentioned was excised, and the other branches were taken and introduced into the proximal part of each muscle.

After 8 to 14 months, all dogs were reoperated on and it was found that 85% had satisfactory regeneration by estimating the contractility of the muscle and by doing histologic examinations. A denervated muscle could be reinnervated by the described method.