Long-term curative effects of one end-to-side and double end-to-side neurorrhaphy in treatment of peripheral nerve defects

Objective To evaluate the long-term curative effects of one end-to-side and double end-to-side neurorrhaphy in treatment of peripheral nerve defects.Methods Thirty sides of hind limbs of 15 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups:one end-to-side neurorrhaphy group(OES),the common peroneal nerve was transected 10 mm below its bifurcation,the distal end of the peroneal nerve was sutured to the intact tibial nerve in an end-to-side mode;double end-to-side neurorrhaphy group(DES),the common peroneal nerve was transected 10 mm below its bifurcation,the proximal and the distal end were sutured to the same side of the intact tibial nerve by end-to-side anastomosis with a 10 mm distance;and control group(C).At regular time after the operation,the general state of hind limbs was observed and recorded.After 1 year recovery period,the electrophysiological indicators including the latency and the amplitude of the evoked potential of the nerve were measured;the mechanical function of the reinnervated muscle was appraised by measuring the maximum titanic force of the tibialis anterior muscle;and the histological and morphometric evaluation of the tibialis anterior muscle and the nerve specimens were also made.Results All results including the amplitude of the evoked potential of the nerve,the mass of the tibilis anterior muscle and the acreage of cross section of the myelinated axons in the distal peroneal nerve and the mechanical function of the tibilis anterior muscle in OES group were similar to them in DES group,there was no significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion The long-term curative effects of one end-to-side and double end-to-side neurorrhaphy are the same.The proximal end of the transected nerve can be reconnected with the distal end by double end-to-side neurorrhaphy,but the connected fibers have only partial effects on the recovery of the nerve.