Vascularized vs. non-vascularized nerve transfers: Histologic study in rats

From the clinical point of view, the state of vascularized nerve transfers is clearly demonstrated in the literature. This study was carried out to el icit the basic histologic differences between vascularized and non-vascular ized nerve transfers in an animal experiment. In 46 rats, the lateral femor al cutaneous nerve was resected, and an interposition with a free (n=23) is chiatic nerve transfer on one side and a vascularized (n=23) ischiatic nerv e transfer on the other side was carried out. Three months postoperatively, the rats were sacrificed and 45 nerve transfers and 46 contralateral. refe rence specimen probes were histologically evaluated. A lower degree of nerv e fibrosis and vesicular degeneration of the myelin sheath were found in th e vascularized nerve transfers, compared to the free non-vascularized trans fers. The thickness of the myelin sheaths was less in the free transfers. F rom a histologic point of view, a lower degree of degenerative changes was seen in the vascularized nerves after transfer.