Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China.
Radiology. 2010 Mar;254(3):729-38. doi: 10.1148/radiol.09091223.
To prospectively evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) signal abnormalities and the time course of T1 and T2 values in a rabbit model of acute nerve traction injury with histologic and functional recovery correlation.
All experimental protocols were approved by the institutional animal use and care committee. Acute traction injury was produced in the sciatic nerve of one hind limb in each of 28 rabbits. The contralateral sham-operated nerves served as controls. Sequential MR imaging and T1 and T2 measurements, as well as measurements of functional changes, were obtained over a 70-day follow-up period, with histologic assessments performed at regular intervals. Signal abnormalities and the time course of T1 and T2 values were observed in the proximal, traction, and distal portions of the injured nerves and the sham-operated nerves, and were compared with each other.
Nerves with acute traction injury showed visible hyperintense signals on T2-weighted images and had prolonged T1 and T2 values. Differences of T1 and T2 values were dependent on the sites along the same injured nerve, with the most pronounced and prolonged phase of T1 and T2 increases (peak values of 1333 msec +/- 46 and 79 msec +/- 3.7, respectively) observed in the most severely damaged portion of the injured nerve. T1 and T2 values and functional changes after nerve injury showed a similar time course. A return of T1 and T2 signals to normal values correlated with functional improvement.
MR imaging could be used to help predict the degree of nerve damage and monitor the process of nerve recovery in acute peripheral nerve traction injury. (c) RSNA, 2010.
前瞻性评估兔急性神经牵引损伤模型的磁共振（MR）信号异常及 T1 和 T2 值的时间变化，并与组织学和功能恢复相关联。
所有实验方案均经机构动物使用和护理委员会批准。在 28 只兔子的每只后肢的坐骨神经中制造急性牵引损伤。对侧假手术神经作为对照。在 70 天的随访期间，连续进行 MR 成像和 T1 和 T2 测量以及功能变化测量，并定期进行组织学评估。观察损伤和未损伤神经的近侧、牵引和远侧部位的信号异常和 T1 和 T2 值的时间变化，并相互比较。
急性牵引损伤的神经在 T2 加权图像上显示出明显的高信号，并且 T1 和 T2 值延长。T1 和 T2 值的差异取决于同一损伤神经的部位，在损伤神经最严重受损部位观察到 T1 和 T2 增加最明显和持续时间最长（分别为 1333 毫秒 +/- 46 和 79 毫秒 +/- 3.7）。T1 和 T2 值和神经损伤后的功能变化具有相似的时间过程。T1 和 T2 信号恢复正常与功能改善相关。
MR 成像可用于帮助预测神经损伤的程度，并监测急性周围神经牵引损伤过程中的神经恢复情况。
