A comparative experimental study of vascularized and nonvascularized nerve grafts.

In order to compare vascularized and nonvascularized nerve grafts in a normal bed, 96 median nerve grafts were performed in rabbits. The median nerves were grafted in situ bilaterally, whether vascularized or nonvascularized. The length of the grafts was 2 cm, 4 cm, or 6 cm. A morphometric study was performed eight weeks and 24 weeks after the operation. No significant differences were found between vascularized and nonvascularized grafts at the same levels of nerve grafts. However, significant differences between vascularized and nonvascularized grafts were found for 4-cm and 6-cm grafts at eight weeks, and for 6-cm grafts at 24 weeks postoperatively, comparing the proximal normal nerve segments with the nerve segments distal to the nerve grafts.