The early effects of sympathectomy on bone blood flow.

Several laboratories, including our own, have investigated the physiology of bone blood flow by perfusion of the tibia via the nutrient artery. Any damage caused to the nerve supply by cannulation of the artery might affect the results. The possible effect of such damage was investigated by measuring blood flow to the dog tibia using a microsphere technique, before and after sympathectomy. No effect was found and the tibial nutrient artery is therefore a suitable vessel for perfusion when estimating nutrient exchange in bone.