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. 2016 Jan 7;3(12):e576.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000535. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Technical Improvements to a Rat Brachial Plexus Avulsion Model via a Posterior Surgical Approach

Karen M Oprych  1 , Pratipal S Kalsi  1 , Carolina Kachramanoglou  1 , David Choi  1
Affiliations

Technical Improvements to a Rat Brachial Plexus Avulsion Model via a Posterior Surgical Approach

Karen M Oprych et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: This work was funded by the European Research Council and was carried out at UCL/UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, which receives funding from the National Institute for Health Research. The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. The Article Processing Charge was paid for by University College London.

Figures

Fig.1.
Fig.1.
Custom-made nerve hook for manipulating the dura and cervical nerve roots. This is made by filing a tungsten needle (bottom) to form a small flat surface with smooth edges that can be curved using forceps to the optimal length and angle for hooking the rat cervical nerve roots. Small blue interval markers indicate 1 mm.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
The surgical view of the T1 ventral rootlets created using the described approach. Often blood vessels may run alongside the ventral rootlets. To avulse the nerve root without excessive bleeding, the rootlets must be passed underneath the blood vessel and hooked from the opposite side (see Video 3, Supplemental Digital Content 4 which demonstrates using the hook and forceps, the second ventral rootlet is passed underneath the obstructing blood vessel and avulsed. The pia is opened and the ventral root reimplanted in the ventrolateral cord. This video is available in the “Related Videos” section of the full-text article on http://www.PRSGlobalOpen.com or available at http://links.lww.com/PRSGO/A158).
Video 1.
Video 1.
See video, Supplemental Digital Content 2, which demonstrates the location and exposure of the T1/C7 vertebra via a dorsal approach using the spinous process of T2 as an anatomical landmark. The lamina, transverse process and pedicle are drilled and a T1/C7 hemilaminectomy performed to create a sufficient surgical window. This video is available in the “Related Videos” section of the full-text article on http://www.PRSGlobalOpen.com or available at http://links.lww.com/PRSGO/A156.
Video 2.
Video 2.
See video, Supplemental Digital Content 3, which shows the opening of the dura and transection and retraction of the T1 dorsal root using the custom made nerve hook. The dura is retracted with sutures, and 1 of the 2 T1 ventral rootlets is avulsed using the nerve hook. This video is available in the “Related Videos” section of the full-text article on http://www.PRSGlobalOpen.com or available at http://links.lww.com/PRSGO/A157.
Video 3.
Video 3.
See video, Supplemental Digital Content 4, which demonstrates using the hook and forceps, the second ventral rootlet is passed underneath the obstructing blood vessel and avulsed. The pia is opened and the ventral root reimplanted in the ventrolateral cord. This video is available in the “Related Videos” section of the full-text article on http://www.PRSGlobalOpen.com or available at http://links.lww.com/PRSGO/A158.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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