[Morphometric rationale for utilization of peripheral nerves of the human fetus as vascularized allografts]

The authors performed morphometric section studies of the peripheral nerves of 25 human fetuses of 17-26 week development. The purpose of the study was determination of the technical possibility of using revascularized nerves of the human fetus as grafts for replacement of post-traumatic defects in the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves of the upper limbs of fetuses of the indicated developmental periods were found to be formed morphologically. The results of morphometric study showed that it is technically possible to obtain the median, ulnar, and radial nerves on a vascular pedicle. The length and diameter of the vessels of the vascular pedicle of the upper limb peripheral nerves allow revascularization of the brephograft to be accomplished by means of microsurgical techniques.