TIBIAL NERVE FUNCTION DURING TIBIAL LENGTHENING - MEASUREMENT OF NERVE-CONDUCTION AND BLOOD-FLOW IN RABBITS

We evaluated in 20 Japanese white rabbits the effects of tibia[ length ening on tibial nerve conduction and intraneural blood flow at the end of lengthening. Both tibiae were distracted 1mm per day. The distract ion frequency was in 2 steps (0.5 mm/12 h) an the right side and in 12 0 steps (0.0083 mm/ 12 min) on the left. The rabbits were separated in to 4 subgroups based on the percentage of lengthening: 0 (control), 10 , 20, and 30 percent. In the 2-step group, nerve conduction was delaye d at 20 and 30 percent lengthening, compared to the control group, whi le in the 120-step group, it was delayed only at 30 percent lengthenin g, Intraneural blood flow in the P-step group was decreased at 10, 20, and 30 percent lengthenings, while in the 120-step group it was reduc ed at 30 percent lengthening. Our findings indicate that an increase i n the frequency of distraction reduces the impairment of nerve functio n during bone lengthening.