To observe the effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation on peripheral nerve regeneration, a model was created on the sciatic nerves of 56 rats from either sectioned and followed by direct anastomosis or clamping of the nerve. The indices, such as conducting velocity of nerve, maximal induced action potential of muscle, growth speed of nerve, rateof axon crossing anastomosis site, number of muscular fiber on transverse area and weight of muscle by autocontrol were compared. In this study, 36 rats were divided into two groups, 24 rats in Group 1 and 12 rats in Group 2. In Gourp 1, both sciatic nerves were sectioned and was anastomozed 4 weeks later. One side of the nerve was stimulated with percutaneous electric current, the other side was served as control. In Group 2, both sides of nerves were clamped and the electical stimulationwas carried out on one side. The parameters of the electric current were 2～5HZ, 0.4m/s, 24～48V. The electrophysiological and histomorphological features were observed 1 to 6 weeks after operation. The results showed that in the stimulatedside, the indices were all superior to that of the control side. This suggestedthat electrical stimulation could promote peripheral nerve regeneration.
OBJECTIVE In order to provide the scientific basis to find out a practical and effective method to evaluate the degree of muscle atrophy and a better method of prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy. METHODS Forty-two adult Spray-Dawley rats were used and the model of denervated gastrocnemius muscle was established by cutting off the tibial nerve. The muscle wet weight, diameter and cross section area of myocyte were measured. The motor end-plate, fibrillation potential amplitude and frequency of denervated skeletal muscle were observed. RESULTS The muscle wet weight rapidly reduced within 4 weeks. Afterwards, it maintained about 30 per cent of normal value, and the diameter and cross section area of myocyte progressively reduced. The motor end-plate slightly changed within 4 weeks, but its degeneration accelerated in 6 weeks and disappeared after 16 weeks. The fibrillation potential amplitude was maximum at 2 weeks and it progressively reduced after 12 weeks of muscle denervation. The changes of amplitude and frequency were consistent with the degeneration of end-plate. CONCLUSION The muscle wet weight, diameter and cross section area of myocyte, fibrillation potential amplitude and frequency could be considered as the morphological and electrophysiological indexes of muscle atrophy degree. It’s suggested that the repairing operation of peripheral nerve should be performed before the disappearance of motor end-plate.
In order to introduce a novel reversed digital artery island flap, it was used in 13 cases involving 17 digital skin defects since 1993, in which digital skin defects were covered by a reversed digital artery island flap, a comparative study was made between the flaps with or without a palmar digital vein. The results showed that the 17 island flaps were all survived, and during the early stage after operation, the incidence of venous crisis in the flaps without palmar digital vein was 87.5% (7/8) while that in the flaps with the vein was only 11.1% (1/9), so, it was concluded that the reversed digital artery island flap containing a palmar digital vein could obviously reduce the incidence of venous crisis and improve the survival of the flap.
To prove and improve the technique of fibrin glue adhesion repair peripheral nerve, 20 male rats were chosen. All the rats was randomly divided into two groups: Suture group (n = 10) and glue adhesion group (n = 10). Left sciatic nerves of the rats were cut with knife and repaired by suture or adhesion methods separately according to their groups. When adhesive method being used, the epineurial was fixed with a suture method similar to anchor suture for preventing suture line broken. Immediatly after the repair and 8 weeks after the surgery, the histologic and electrophysiologic changes of the repaired nerve were observed. The result showed: The axonal copation was soon improved in glue adhesion group. At the eighth week, nerve fiber alignment of the adhesion group was more regular than that of the suture group. Moreover, there were great improvement of axon cross rate and the recovery rate of sectional area of nerve fiber at the distal end in glue adhesion group (P lt; 0.05, P lt; 0.01). It was concluded that glue adhesion was prior to suture in repair of peripheral nerve, and anchor suture could improve the technique of glue adhesion method.
Objective To review the recent development of extraplexal neurotization as a treatment for brachial plexus injuries. Methods Relevant literature was extensively reviewed.The new development, the advantages and disadvantages of extraplexal neurotization were comprehensively evaluated and analyzed. Results After many years of clinical research, great improvement in treatment of brachial plexus injuries was achieved. There were more donor nerves and better use of every donor nerve was made.Conclusion Extraplexal neurotization is an effective treatment for brachial plexus injuries.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism and to explore the measures of prevention and treatment of hypothermal vasoconstriction. METHODS: By the techniques of endothelial cell culture and scanning electron microscopy, and vasomotor functional test of isolated vascular vessels, the relation of hypothermal vasoconstriction and the release of endothelium-derived contractile and vasodilative factors were observed. RESULTS: Hypothermia obviously induced vasoconstriction of isolated vascular vessels, whether endothelium was intact or removed, the lower the temperature, the higher the vascular tension. Removal of endothelium could decrease the effect of vasoconstriction by hypothermia. The conditioned medium of bovine aortic endothelial cell could induce significantly vasoconstriction of isolated rat common neck arterial ring in hypothermia. It indicated that the bovine aortic endothelial cells secreted contractile factors into the medium. Reheating to 37 degrees C or vasodilator or reheating plus vasodilator did not obviously influence the hypothermia-induced vasoconstriction within 2 hours. When reheating to 50 degrees C, vascular tension was decreased, but only changed in range of 28% to 42%. CONCLUSION: Hypothermia vasoconstriction is relative to vasoconstrictor factors secreted by endothelium. Reheating to 37 degrees C or vasodilator does not antagonize the constriction of vascular vessels. Reheating to 50 degrees C only partially eliminates the constrict effect of blood vessels, so the prevention of hypothermia vasoconstriction should be emphasized.