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Experimental study on neurorrhaphy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in dogs
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2007
Abstract
The effectiveness of anastomosis of a divided recurrent laryngeal nerve was evaluated in six adult mongrel dogs. Videolaryngoscopy and evoked compound muscle action potentials in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles were performed at six months and the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles and recurrent laryngeal nerves were processed for histomorphometric studies. Recovery of compound muscle action potentials in all re-innervated muscles and histomorphometric findings confirmed a good grade of axonal regeneration. The most significant histomorphometric changes observed were: a reactive hypertrophy of type I fibres in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles of the re-innervated side, and a high nerve fibre density in the distal stump to the anastomosis. However, incomplete recovery of motion and fasciculated movements of the reinnervated vocal folds were observed. Reduction of effective motor units in the re-innervated muscles might be a factor that cause incomplete restoration of vocal fold movements.
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- Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996
Footnotes
This study was performed in accordance with the Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; the animal use protocol was approved by the Department of Surgery and Medicine of ‘Universidad de Cantabria’.
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