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J Reconstr Microsurg 2003; 19(1): 021-028
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-37187
Copyright © 2003 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1 (212) 584-4662.

Limits of Muscle-to-Nerve Ratio in Functional Muscle Transplantation

Pietro Giovanoli1 , Lars Peter Kamolz1 , Matthias Rab1 , Rupert Koller1 , Martina Mittlböck2 , Manfred Frey1
  • 1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School
  • 2Department of Medical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria
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Publication History

Publication Date:
12 February 2003 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional limits of over-dimensioning a free functioning muscle transplant for neuromuscular reconstruction. A part of the rectus femoris muscle, two and three times bigger than a scutuloauricularis muscle, was used to functionally replace the latter after removal. The major finding of these experiments is that both double-sized and triple-sized portions of the rectus femoris muscle developed maximal tetanic tensions during isometric contractions, which were up to 175 percent of the control scutuloauricularis muscle of the unoperated, contralateral side, although the same branch of the facial nerve was used for reinnervation of the grafted muscle. This implies that the supplying branch of the facial nerve has the potency to innervate a muscle much larger than the originally supplied muscle with optimal efficiency. These results underline the usefulness of overdimensioning during functional muscle transplantation, and also in limited neural capacity situations.

KEYWORD

Functioning muscle transplantation - muscle reinnervation - experimental

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