Determinants of nerve conduction recovery after nerve injuries: Compression duration and nerve fiber types.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the influences of: (1) timing of nerve decompression; and (2) nerve fiber types on the patterns of nerve conduction studies (NCS) after nerve injury. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed on 3 models of nerve injury: (1) crush injury due to transient nerve compression (crush group); (2) chronic constriction injury (CCI), or permanent compression (CCI group); and (3) CCI with removal of ligatures, or delayed nerve decompression (De-CCI group). There were distinct patterns of NCS recovery. The crush and De-CCI groups achieved similar motor nerve recovery, better than that of the CCI group. In contrast, recovery of sensory nerves was limited in the CCI and De-CCI groups and was lower than in the crush group. Immediate relief of compression resulted in the best recovery of motor and sensory nerve conduction. In contrast, delayed decompression restored only motor nerve conduction.