Fascicular Ligation in the Prevention and Treatment of Painful Terminal Neuroma: An Experimental Study in the Rat

Abstract

The role of microfascicular double ligation and interligature coagulation in the prevention of painful neuroma was studied in an experimental model of section of the sciatic nerve in the rat. The experimental parameters used were the onset of autotomy and the weekly autotomy score. The autotomy of the denervated limb is a behavioral pattern that occurs in the experimental animal after the severing of peripheral nerves and has been related to anomalous electrical activity originating from the neuroma. Microfascicular ligation was performed immediately after section of the sciatic nerve or 10 days later. The results were compared to those of control groups treated with simple nerve section or simple neuroma resection 10 days after nerve section. The results show that immediate or delayed microfascicular ligation has no effect on pain as measured by the development of autotomy.