ABSTRACT
This study investigated the intact nerve bridge technique for overcoming peripheral
nerve gap defects in a rabbit model. To create the intact nerve bridge, a 1-cm segment
of the peroneal nerve is resected leaving a gap defect. The proximal and distal peroneal
nerve stumps are sutured 1 cm apart, in an end-to-side fashion, to the intact tibial
nerve epineurium. Four experimental groups were used (n = 10): primary repair of resected
segment; intact nerve bridge; nerve autograft; and gap in situ control. Evaluation after 12 weeks included measurement of isometric muscle contraction
force, axonal counting, wet muscle weights, and histologic examination. The results
of this study support two main conclusions, in a rabbit model: (a) regenerating axons
can use the epineurium of an intact nerve to bridge a gap defect; (b) there is no
significant difference in the functional recovery between standard nerve autografts
and the intact nerve bridge technique.
KEYWORDS
Peripheral nerve injury - gap defect - intact nerve bridge
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Thomas E TrumbleM.D.
Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center
Box 356500, Seattle, WA 98195-6500
