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Published on: June 26, 2021
Tibial and fibular nerves evaluation using intraoperative electromyography in rats
André Coelho Nepomuceno1, Elisa Landucci Politani2, Eduardo Guandelini da Silva2
1MD, Plastic Surgeon, Fellow PhD degree, General Surgery Program, Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil. Design the protocol, scientific content of the study, technical procedures, manuscript preparation and writing, English language.
Purpose:
To evaluate a new model of intraoperative electromyographic (EMG) assessment of the tibial and fibular nerves, and its respectives motor units in rats.
Methods:
Eight Wistar rats underwent intraoperative EMG on both hind limbs at two different moments: week 0 and week 12. Supramaximal electrical stimulation applied on sciatic nerve, and compound muscle action potential recorded on the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDLM) through electrodes at specifics points. Motor function assessment was performaced through Walking Track Test.
Results:
Exposing the muscles and nerves for examination did not alter tibial (p=0.918) or fibular (p=0.877) function between the evaluation moments. Electromyography of the GM, innervated by the tibial nerve, revealed similar amplitude (p=0.069) and latency (p=0.256) at week 0 and at 12 weeks, creating a standard of normality. Meanwhile, electromyography of the EDLM, innervated by the fibular nerve, showed significant differences between the amplitudes (p=0.003) and latencies (p=0.021) at the two different moments of observation.
Conclusion:
Intraoperative electromyography determined and quantified gastrocnemius muscle motor unit integrity, innervated by tibial nerve. Although this study was not useful to, objectively, assess extensor digitorum longus muscle motor unit, innervated by fibular nerve.
