TY - JOUR TI - Phrenic nerve neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with end-to-side neurorrhaphy: A short report in a rabbit model AU - Stamatoukou, Anna AU - Papadogeorgou, Ellada AU - Zhang, Zijie and AU - Pavlakis, Kitty AU - Zoubos, Aristides B. AU - Soucacos, Panayotis N. JO - Microsurgery PY - 2006 VL - 26 TODO - 4 SP - 268-272 PB - Wiley SN - 0738-1085, 1098-2752 TODO - 10.1002/micr.20238 TODO - null TODO - This experimental study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of end-to-side coaptation between the musculocutaneous nerve and the phrenic nerve for brachial plexus injuries with nerve-root avulsions. In an experimental rabbit model, neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with the phrenic nerve was compared using end-to-end and end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Preliminary results from electrophysiologic and histologic examinations indicate that end-to-side neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve with the phrenic nerve is an effective means for musculocutaneous nerve repair. The effectiveness of the phrenic nerve is attributed to its large number of motor axons. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. ER -