FACTORS AFFECTING RECOVERY OF MOTOR FUNCTION AFTER NERVE LESIONS

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Abstract
Functional regeneration of nerves is investigated by a study of the recovery of the function of spreading of the toes of the rabbit, following lesions of the peroneal nerve. After injuring this nerve at the knee, fibers return to the muscle after about 10 days, contraction or stimulation of the nerve after about 18-20 days, first reflex function after 25 days. The greater the distance of the lesions from the muscle, the longer the time between the beginning of recovery and its completion in the nerve. The rate of advance of regeneration down the nerve is given as 2 77 [plus or minus] 0 09 mm/day after a latent period of 18 2 days. After severance and suture, recovery is slower than after crushing the nerve, the rate of advance of regeneration being 1 69 [plus or minus] 0 34 mm/day after a latent period of 27 7 days. When the nerve is crushed a second time after an initial crush near the muscle, recovery occurs earlier than after a single crush. This difference does not occur when the interval between the crushes is only 8 days.