Intercostal nerve transfer to lumbar nerve roots. Part II: Neuropathologic findings in the animal model

These are the neuropathologic findings in dogs 8-11 months after a unilateral intercostal nerve transfer and anastomosis to a lumbar nerve root were performed. This is a follow-up study of a procedure that was initially carried out in the adult and infant human cadaver and subsequently in an animal model by Malik and Buhr, as reported in this issue of Spine. At the time of sacrifice, the animals in this study had lost the limp that they had postoperatively. The results demonstrate the viability of the intercostal nerve transfer and its anastomosis to the lumbar motor root. There was supplied by a lumbar nerve root that had been operated upon, but the basis of this was not definitely established.