Effect of Axonal Length on Direct Neuromuscular Neurotization: An Experimental Study

To compare the effect of long and short axonal lengths on neuromuscular neurotization (NMN). In this study, 18 male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. In each group, the peroneal nerve and soleus muscle were dissected. In Group1, the muscle was neurotized after the peroneal nerve was dissected until bifurcation. In Group2, the nerve was transected 1 cm proximal from the most distal site, and the muscle was neurotized with a shorter nerve than that in Group1. In Group2 (0.84), the compound muscle action potential amplitude ratio was statistically higher than that in Group1 (0.42). Upon pathological examination, the cross-sectional area was statistically larger in Group2. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme levels in Groups1 and 2 were 37.73 and 45.47, respectively. Considering that NMN with shorter axons showed better results than that with longer axons, nerve transfers using nerves as short as possible should be preferred in clinical applications.