Cs. Williams et al., BIOMECHANICAL EFFECTS OF OPERATIVE NERVE MOBILIZATION AND TRANSPOSITION IN A CANINE ULNAR NERVE MODEL, The Journal of hand surgery, 22A(2), 1997, pp. 193-199
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects that operative m
obilization and transposition of the ulnar nerve have on both neural e
xcursion and mechanical properties. Twelve dogs underwent ulnar nerve
transposition and postoperative casting. Four animals were killed at 3
weeks and four animals were killed at 6 weeks. Four animals had their
casts removed at 3 weeks, were allowed to ambulate, and were killed a
t 6 weeks. Operated and contralateral control nerves were compared. Ne
ural excursion was measured near the elbow and 12 cm proximally. The n
erves were harvested and their mechanical properties determined. Repea
ted measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences in
longitudinal excursion between control and experimental groups at both
sites. Ultimate strain, ultimate strength, and modulus were significa
ntly reduced in the experimental groups. No differences were seen in c
ross-sectional area or stiffness between control and experimental grou
ps. Analysis revealed no independent effect of the rehabilitation meth
od. Results of this study indicate that significant changes in neural
excursion, ultimate strain, ultimate strength, and modulus occur follo
wing ulnar nerve mobilization and transposition and that these changes
persist throughout the early postoperative period.