Repair of peripheral nerve defects by controlled distraction: a preliminary study
Orbay, J.; Lin, H.; Kummer, F.J.
Bulletin ) 52(2): 7-10
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0018-5647 PMID: 8443562 Document Number: 405541
Five cats underwent a 3.0-cm removal of their ulnar nerves followed by delayed repair. One limb received a standard cable grafting procedure, and the other side had the proximal nerve stump lengthened by controlled distraction and a subsequent direct anastomosis. Histological examination of the lengthened nerves revealed better quality than the grafted nerves in all cats. Nerve conduction velocity of the lengthened side was greater than the graft side in three cats. It appears that this technique of nerve lengthening and direct repair might have clinical applicability.