Assessment of muscle flap sensibility by evoked potentials in the rat

Abstract

This study investigated whether the sensory-to-motor reinervation of the muscle flap provides a better sensory recovery of an overlying skin graft. Fifty-four animals were studied in three groups of 18 rats each: group I (control): 1 cm of the gastrocnemius muscle motor nerve was excised and no repair was performed; group II (motor-to-motor repair): the motor nerve of the gastrocnemius flap was transected and repaired; group III (sensory-to-motor repair): the motor nerve of the gastrocnemius muscle and sural nerve were transected and their distal and proximal ends, respectively, were repaired. At follow-up periods of 6, 12, and 24 weeks, evaluation of hair growth, muscle atrophy, and sensory evoked potentials was performed. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) at 6 weeks in the sensory-to-motor repair (group III) revealed a significant (P < 0. 05) increase (104.4% +/- 22.9) in the relative response of peak-to-peak potentials when compared with group I (46.6% +/- 19) and group II (51.8% +/- 14.0). Muscle flap stimulation was most prominent at 6 weeks in sensory-to-motor reinvervated flaps (group III 133.1% +/- 25.4; group I 84.9% +/- 20.2). In this study, sensory-to-motor nerve repair significantly improved the sensibility of skin flaps at 6 weeks. Denervated flaps presented with 3 months of sensory recovery delay.

Development and Maintenance of Donor-Specific Chimerism in Semi-Allogenic and Fully Major Histocompatibility Complex Mismatched Facial Allograft Transplants

“…This model was designed for coverage of the facial structure, not for the functional transfer of muscle, which is really needed in severely burned patients. Our previous experience using large skin flaps for coverage of defects showed that flaps become sensate by the ingrowth of superficial nerves from surroundings (22). We have observed the same effect in this facial allograft study, in which large skin allografts become sensate as confirmed by the pin-prick test after 6 weeks.…”

Versatile Anterolateral Thigh Perforator Flap: Case of Tailored Reconstruction for a Large Temporal and Parotidectomy Defect

“…This created a sensory-to-motor reinnervation, which has previously been shown to prevent muscle atrophy in animal studies. 15 At the three-month follow-up examinations, no significant atrophy was detected.…”

Patterns of sensory and autonomic reinnervation of long-standing myocutaneous microvascular flaps and split-skin grafts applied to fascial beds

“…The recovery of sensation in microvascular free flaps is somewhat more variable and depends on whether the flaps are neurotized (6)(7)(8), the site of the recipient bed (5) and the time period following the procedure (6). Also, there is evidence to suggest that there may be heterogeneity in the pattern of sensory recovery in those flaps that regain sensation.…”