Beveridge J A, Politis M J
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1988 Oct;82(4):573-9. doi: 10.1097/00006534-198810000-00001.
A commonly observed clinical problem following nerve injury is the incomplete recovery of function associated with the formation of a neuroma in continuity. In the present study, exogenous direct electric current was tested for its ability to promote growth of axons through a neuroma-like lesion. Neuroma-like structures were created by crushing rat sciatic nerves at two sites 4 mm apart and applying phenol to the intermediate region. A bulbous axonally impenetrable structure is formed 3 weeks later. At that time, silicone cuffs were sewn onto the nerve proximal to the phenol application site and 7 mm distally. In experimental groups, cuffs were attached to wires leading to a subcutaneously implanted Traxon power source, the distal cuff being cathodal. In control groups, cuffs were not electrically connected. In electrically active groups, substantial numbers of myelinated axons were seen distal to the cathode 3 weeks after implantation. Four times fewer fibers were observed in control groups. Footprint patterns from electrically active animals revealed a significant improvement over control neuroma preparations, as quantitated using the Sciatic Functional Index.
神经损伤后常见的临床问题是与连续性神经瘤形成相关的功能恢复不完全。在本研究中，测试了外源直流电促进轴突通过类神经瘤样损伤生长的能力。通过在相距4毫米的两个部位挤压大鼠坐骨神经并在中间区域涂抹苯酚来创建类神经瘤样结构。3周后形成一个球形的轴突无法穿透的结构。此时，将硅胶套缝在苯酚涂抹部位近端和远端7毫米处的神经上。在实验组中，套管连接到通向皮下植入的Traxon电源的导线上，远端套管为阴极。在对照组中，套管未进行电连接。在电活性组中，植入后3周在阴极远端可见大量有髓轴突。对照组中观察到的纤维数量减少了四倍。使用坐骨神经功能指数进行定量分析，电活性动物的足迹模式显示出比对照神经瘤制剂有显著改善。
