TY - JOUR
T1 - Reinnervation of skeletal muscle
T2 - A comparison of nerve implantation with neuromuscular pedicle transfer in an animal model
AU - Meikle, David
AU - Trachy, Ronald E.
AU - Cummings, Charles W.
PY - 1987/3
Y1 - 1987/3
N2 - In recent years there has been increased interest in the possibility of reinnervating paralyzed muscles, particularly the muscles of the face and of the larynx. There has been dispute over the relative effectiveness of different approaches. This study was undertaken to compare direct nerve implantation with the transfer of a neuromuscular pedicle using denervated strap muscles in a rabbit model. Reinnervation was carried out both immediately after denervation and after a delay period. Evidence of return of function was obtained by a method of long-term electromyographic monitoring and was confirmed electrically by evoked electromyography and muscle tension measurement and histologically by brain stem uptake of horseradish peroxidase. Both methods of nerve transfer produced consistently functional neuromuscular units, with physiological activity and muscle strength comparable with those in normally innervated controls. Return of function was apparent within 6 weeks of both nerve implantation and neuromuscular transfer; with this model, neither method showed a clear advantage over the other.
AB - In recent years there has been increased interest in the possibility of reinnervating paralyzed muscles, particularly the muscles of the face and of the larynx. There has been dispute over the relative effectiveness of different approaches. This study was undertaken to compare direct nerve implantation with the transfer of a neuromuscular pedicle using denervated strap muscles in a rabbit model. Reinnervation was carried out both immediately after denervation and after a delay period. Evidence of return of function was obtained by a method of long-term electromyographic monitoring and was confirmed electrically by evoked electromyography and muscle tension measurement and histologically by brain stem uptake of horseradish peroxidase. Both methods of nerve transfer produced consistently functional neuromuscular units, with physiological activity and muscle strength comparable with those in normally innervated controls. Return of function was apparent within 6 weeks of both nerve implantation and neuromuscular transfer; with this model, neither method showed a clear advantage over the other.
KW - nerve implant
KW - neuromuscular pedicle
KW - reinnervation
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U2 - 10.1177/000348948709600203
DO - 10.1177/000348948709600203
M3 - Article
C2 - 3551740
AN - SCOPUS:0023264237
SN - 0003-4894
VL - 96
SP - 152
EP - 157
JO - Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
IS - 2
ER -