Termino-lateral neurorrhaphy: the functional axonal anatomy.

The goal of this study was to determine the functional axonal anatomy of a termino-lateral neurorrhaphy (TLN). We hypothesize that axons populating a TLN must relinquish functional connections with their original targets prior to establishing new connections via the TLN. Two-month-old F344 rats underwent a TLN between the left peroneal nerve and a nerve graft tunneled to the contralateral hindlimb. Three months postoperatively, an end-to-end neurorrhaphy was performed between the nerve graft and the right peroneal nerve. Four months after the second operation, contractile properties and electromyographic (EMG) signals were measured in the bilateral hindlimbs. Left peroneal nerve stimulation proximal to the TLN site resulted in bilateral extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle contractions, with significantly lower forces on the side reinnervated by TLN. Evoked EMGs demonstrated that the right and left hindlimb musculature were electrically discontinuous following TLN. These data support our hypothesis that axons can form functional connections via a TLN, but they must first relinquish functional connections with their original targets.