The ulnar test: a method for the quantitative functional assessment of posttraumatic ulnar nerve recovery in the rat

The assessment of recovery of the neuromuscular function following nerve lesion and repair is one of the main goals of peripheral nerve researchers. The forelimb model has recently seen an increase in its employment for experimental nerve repair studies especially because of the availability of the grasping test for assessing the functional recovery of one of its major nerves, the median nerve. Nerve repair studies sometimes require the use of more than one nerve to simulate severe clinical situations and, in this case, the ulnar nerve is often used together with the median nerve. However, a test for assessing ulnar nerve functional recovery is yet not available. To fill this gap, we have developed and experimentally tested a method for the functional assessment of posttraumatic ulnar nerve recovery in the rat. Animal testing using this method is simple, quick and provides the animal with minimal distress. The method proved to be effective in detecting the date on which recovery starts after ulnar nerve impairment and in following its improvement, over time. The availability of this new test is expected to further increase the employment of forelimb experimental nerve models instead of the more disabling hindlimb models.