Effects of Compression and Devascularisation on Ulnar Nerve Function

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of compression, devascularisation and ischaemia with compression on blood flow and function of the ulnar nerve in monkeys. The hydrogen washout technique assessed blood flow; nerve conduction tests determined nerve function. 100 g of external compression produced a significant but incomplete reduction of intraneural blood flow, when conduction velocity decreased significantly and response amplitude deteriorated to zero 28 minutes after the onset of compression. Short-segment devascularisation stopped blood flow but did not influence response latency or velocity. Amplitude was diminished significantly 44 minutes after devascularisation. Tourniquet ischaemia followed by compression produced temporary variability in latency and velocity, while amplitude was diminished only during the compression phase following ischaemia. The overall results suggested that compression and ischaemia influence the nerve conduction response differently and that the effects of compression are potentiated by previous ischaemia, even if this was of short duration.