A PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY MODEL UTILIZING A SIMPLE TISSUE SPARING APPROACH TO THE RABBIT SCIATIC NERVE

摘要

Background & Aims: Peripheral nerve injury models require a reproducible surgical technique that provides a simple and extensile peripheral nerve exposure. We present a muscle sparing apprach to the sciatic nerve in a rabbit model. A combination of general anestheia, sedative and perioperative analgesics was given to minimize animal discomfort. Methods: A posterior lateral dissection of the rabbit hind leg was performed to expose the proximal sciatic nerve. This facilitated an extensile dissection of both the proximal and distal sciatic nerve. Results: The described dissection is atraumatic, bloodless, and yields minimal postoperative morbidity on the rabbit. All rabbits received standard postoperative care in compliance with all regulatory agencies. A full vetinarian staff was available to manage the animals postoperatively. Conclusion: We found that our technique is a reproducible and easy to perform surgical approach with basic surgical setup. Our animal model provides an opportunity to evaluate and study peripheral nerve injuries peripheral nerve injuries.