[Experimental reconstruction on intrinsic hand muscle function by anterior interosseous nerve transference].

The anterior interosseous nerve was transferred to the recurrent branch of the median nerve and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve respectively to restore the function of the intrinsic hand muscles. Twelve Rhesus monkeys were used with 24 nerves for transference and 24 for direct suturing. Gross, histological, and ultrastructural observations, electrophysiological evaluation and computer-imaging analysis system were employed to assess the nerve regeneration process in 1,3,6, and 12 months after operation. The results showed that the rate of maturity and the number of regenerating nerves in the distal segment approached the normal level and the passing rate of the myelinated axons reached to 156.16 +/- 14.45% 12 months after operation. According to the histological findings and the recovery of the intrinsic hand muscle function, reinnervation in the transferred nerves occurred 1 to 3 months earlier than that in the directly sutured ones.