Reverse end-to-side neurotization

The authors describe a reverse end-to-side neurorrhaphy model in which the proximal end of a donor nerve is sutured to an epineurial window in the side of a recipient nerve. If effective, this technique would have useful applications in nerve reconstructive surgery. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 9). In Group A, the peroneal nerve was transected and directly repaired in standard end-to-end fashion. In Group B, the tibial nerve was transected and the proximal end was sutured to the side of the intact peroneal nerve through an epineurial window. In Group C, the tibial nerve was also transected and the proximal end sutured to the side of the intact peroneal nerve, but the peroneal nerve was then cut proximally. After 12 weeks, contractile forces of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) were measured, following stimulation of the proximal sciatic nerve on all experimental (and normal) hind limbs. For Group B, the peroneal nerve was transected proximal to the repair site just prior to stimulation. Group B animals did not demonstrate any measurable contractions. No statistically significant differences were found between Groups A and C. This demonstrated the successful neurotization of a denervated muscle using a reverse end-to-side neurorrhaphy model.