The Limit of Graft Length in the Experimental use of Muscle Grafts for Nerve Repair

Abstract

In order to investigate whether there is any length limit for the success of freeze-thawed muscle grafts when used for peripheral nerve repair, an experimental study was undertaken in the rabbit. Previous work has shown 4 cm muscle grafts in the rabbit sciatic nerve to be successful. On this basis 5 cm and 10 cm muscle grafts were inserted into the common peroneal nerve and compared with 5 cm and 10 cm free nerve grafts. Recovery was assessed after 250 days using whole nerve physiology, weights of innervated muscles, and histological examination of the nerve. At both 5 cm and 10 cm the nerve grafts performed significantly better than the muscle grafts, the 10 cm muscle grafts being totally ineffective. The implications of these results for the application of freeze-thawed muscle grafting in peripheral nerve surgery and the possible factors limiting length of grafting are discussed.