A new vascularized nerve graft model in the rabbit

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Surgical Innovation
• Anatomy

Background:

• Developing effective nerve grafts is crucial for repairing nerve damage.
• Existing models often lack the necessary vascularization or anatomical compatibility for certain reconstructions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the macro- and microanatomy of the rabbit median nerve.
• To develop a novel vascularized nerve graft (VNG) model for potential use in nerve repair.

Main Methods:

• Detailed anatomical study of the rabbit median nerve.
• Design and construction of a VNG model comprising a median nerve segment with its associated brachial artery and vein, featuring a distal arteriovenous fistula.
• Testing the VNG model by applying it to repair an intratemporal facial nerve defect.

Main Results:

• The rabbit median nerve's anatomy was elucidated for graft development.
• A functional VNG model was successfully created, incorporating a 1-cm nerve segment and a 3-cm vascular pedicle with an arteriovenous fistula.
• The VNG model demonstrated reliability in repairing an intratemporal facial nerve defect.
• The model's monofascicular pattern and diameter closely matched the reconstructed facial nerve, offering a unique advantage.

Conclusions:

• The developed rabbit median nerve vascularized nerve graft model is reliable and anatomically suitable for facial nerve reconstruction.
• This VNG model offers a unique advantage due to its monofascicular pattern and diameter, differentiating it from previously described models.