Journal of reconstructive microsurgery
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J Reconstr Microsurg · Aug 2003
Comparative StudyFree radical-induced damage in experimental peripheral nerve injection injury.
Peripheral nerve injury secondary to injection of therapeutic agents is well-documented. Until recently, the precise mechanism of injury has been obscure; even today, the treatment of these nerve injection injuries remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the development of peripheral nerve injection injury. ⋯ Injection of lidocaine and phenol resulted in near-normal walking tracks at 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, while saline injection caused only transient impairment in walking tracks. These findings indicate that reactive oxygen species are involved in the pathogenesis of experimental peripheral nerve injection injury. Indices of free oxygen radical damage correlate with the progression of functional alterations after nerve injection injury.