Abstract
The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator System was used to clear the facial nerve from adjacent tissues in the rat. Acute damage to the nerve was manifest electro-physiologically by a significant decrease in amplitude of the conducted nerve action potential (P < 0.0001) and increase in latency of the muscle action potential (P < 0.01). Impairment of neural activity was temporary. In the majority of rats facial movements and neural activity returned to their preoperative state within 14 days. The nerves were prepared for light and transmission electron microscopy. The histopathological correlate of the documented functional impairment was disruption of the perineurium and a variable degeneration of the nerve fibres. Regeneration was evident by the end of the second postoperative week, but degenerative changes seen in some of these new fibres cast doubt on their viability.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
