EPINEURIAL VS. PERINEURIAL REPAIR: An Ultrastructural and Electrophysiological Study of Nerve Regeneration

Previous work concerning the efficacy of different types of nerve repair has been reviewed. We describe a model in which epineurial and perineurial suture techniques were studied by quantitative ultramicroscopy and electrophysiology. In this model, we believe suture of the perineurium was shown to have a slight advantage over suture of the epineurium. Microscopic control and fascicular alignment are advocated to increase the percentage of axons growing into the distal stump and the periphery. The model described should lend itself to the study of other traumatic peripheral neuropathies.