Peripheral nerve injuries: studies in higher nonhuman primates.

Two skeletally mature baboons underwent comparative neurorrhapies following transsection of both ulnar nerves without loss of nerve tissue. In baboon 1 there was no difference in objective evaluations at 12 months when an epineurial neurorrhaphy was compared to a perineurial fascicular neurorrhaphy. In baboon 2, the one that had interfacicular grafts in one upper extremity and an epineurial neurorrhaphy on the other side, there was significantly better functional return on the epineurial side than one the graft side. Grass and histological evaluation showed that the grafts retained their integrity and regenerating axons transversed the grafts well.