Reversing Nerve-Graft Polarity in a Rat Model: The Effect on Function

Dean G. Sotereanos; Anthony V. Seaber; James R. Urbaniak; David A. Spiegel; Donna Sotereanos; Douglas C. Anthony

doi:10.1055/s-2007-1006712

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 1992; 8(4): 303-307
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1006712

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Reversing Nerve-Graft Polarity in a Rat Model: The Effect on Function

Dean G. Sotereanos, Anthony V. Seaber, James R. Urbaniak, David A. Spiegel, Donna Sotereanos, Douglas C. Anthony

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA and the Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery and the Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Abstract

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of nerve-graft polarity on function, a 1-cm segment of sciatic nerve was excised and reoriented in three groups of 20 adult Sprague-Dawley rats. In one group, the nerve was cut and anastomosed in the original orientation to act as a control. In the second group, the nerve-graft polarity was reversed 180°. The final group underwent reversal of polarity 180° and was rotated 180°, (i.e., the posterior tibial nerve fascicles proximally were opposite to the peroneal nerve fascicles distally). Functional recovery was evaluated using Bain's modification of de Medinaceli's sciatic functional index (SFI). Rat-track analysis was performed over a 120-day period. Histologic correlation was also performed at the time of sacrifice. From our study, we concluded that reversing nerve-graft polarity, with or without rotation, does not influence subsequent function in this model.

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