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

© 1992 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

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
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Publication History

Accepted for publication 1992

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

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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.