PERONEAL MOTOR-NERVE CRUSH INJURY AND HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN EFFECT

The potential therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) after rat peroneal nerve crush was evaluated. Animals were given 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmosphere absolute for 90 minutes twice daily for 1 week and then once daily for 1 week. Edema increased in crushed nerves compared wit h control nerves, but-up effect was associated with the administration of HBO. Gait analysis demonstrated injury at 1, 7, and 14 days after nerve crush, but no difference was found at 22 and 28 days after injur y (analysis of variance: P<.001, 10 animals per group). Eight weeks af ter injury, nerve stimulation and muscle force measurements were 114 g for the injured group and 146 g for the control group (P<.001). There were no HBO-associated changes in gait parameter or nerve/muscle forc e measurements. This study demonstrated that rat peroneal nerve crush injury causes acute intraneural edema and temporary decrement of gait parameters. Elicited nerve stimulation demonstrated persistent loss of force 4 weeks after normalization of gait, but no HBO effect.