Phrenic Nerve - new/good research in rabbit model

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Microsurgery. 2006 Apr 20

Phrenic nerve neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with end-to-

side neurorrhaphy: A short report in a rabbit model.

Stamatoukou A, Papadogeorgou E, Zhang Z, Pavlakis K, Zoubos AB,

Soucacos PN.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of

Athens, Athens, Greece.

This experimental study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of end-

to-side coaptation between the musculocutaneous nerve and the phrenic

nerve for brachial plexus injuries with nerve-root avulsions. In an

experimental rabbit model, neurotization of the musculocutaneous

nerve with the phrenic nerve was compared using end-to-end and end-to-

side neurorrhaphy. Preliminary results from electrophysiologic and

histologic examinations indicate that end-to-side neurotization of

the musculocutaneous nerve with the phrenic nerve is an effective

means for musculocutaneous nerve repair. The effectiveness of the

phrenic nerve is attributed to its large number of motor axons.