A NERVE DISTRACTION MODEL IN THE RAT

Segmental loss of a peripheral nerve has been a challenging reconstruc tive problem, Management of the nerve gap has been accomplished classi cally with nerve grafting. However, autogenous nerve grafts are not al ways available for bridging large nerve gaps, and clinical results of large nerve cable grafts have been disappointing. Newer techniques con centrate on nerve lengthening with different methods. Tissue expansion of peripheral nerves has been producing promising results. Since the introduction of the Ilizarov external fixator, much attention has turn ed to limb-lengthening techniques and studies investigating the result s of nerve and soft tissues lengthened during the course of this proce dure. Primary nerve distraction may be an alternative to nerve elongat ion, by expansion or nerve grafting to repair the peripheral nerve gap . This study describes a device and a model for peripheral nerve distr action in a rat. Primary nerve distraction will need to be subjected t o vigorous studies before clinical application.