Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2018
Contralateral peripheral neurotization for a hemiplegic hindlimb after central neurological injury.
OBJECTIVE Contralateral peripheral neurotization surgery has been successfully applied to rescue motor function of the hemiplegic upper extremity in patients with central neurological injury (CNI). It may contribute to strengthened neural pathways between the contralesional cortex and paretic limbs. However, the effect of this surgery in the lower extremities remains unknown. ⋯ Histological study of the rat brains verified comparable injured volumes among Groups 1-3 at final examinations, and electromyography and toluidine blue staining indicated successful regeneration of the L6-L6 neural pathways in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS Contralateral L-6 neurotization could be a promising and safe surgical approach for improving motor recovery of the hemiplegic hindlimb after unilateral CNI in adult rats. Further investigations are needed before extrapolating the present conclusions to humans.