PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF PERIPHERAL NERVE TO REPETITIVE COMPRESSION: A RABBIT EXPERIMENTAL MODEL

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to clarify the differences in physiological responses following the different modality of repetitive compressions versus continuous compression (CC) of the peripheral nerve. Methods: Thirty-two rabbits were used. Under anesthesia, four conditions of compression; CC, low-frequency release compression (LFR, one second release time every 30 s), high-frequency release compression (HFR, one second release time every 10 s), and high-frequency compression (HFC, one second compression time every 10 s) were each applied with 80[Formula: see text]mmHg of pressure for 90[Formula: see text]min to the sciatic nerve. Compound nerve action potential (CNAP) and nerve blood flow were evaluated from the beginning of compression to 90[Formula: see text]min after compression release. Endoneurial microvascular permeability was evaluated histologically. Results: During compression, the nerve blood flow and the amplitude of CNAP decreased for all four groups. There were significant delays in the recovery of the amplitude and nerve blood flow in the LFR and HFR groups compared to CC group ([Formula: see text]). Endoneurial edema was observed in the repetitive compression groups. Conclusions: Even if the overall compression time was short, the accumulation of repetitive compression-release cycles causes to delay the recovery of nerve physiological function with endoneurial edema.