Ultrastructural Evaluation of the Planter Nerve after Transection of the Ramus Commuincans in the Horse

The clinical significance of the ramus communicans, which connects the medial and lateral palmar/plantar nerves, should be determined to avoid errors in interpreting the effects of diagnostic anesthesia of the palmar/plantar nerves of horses during lameness examination. To determine its clinical significance, the ramus communicans of the pelvic limbs of 2 ponies was transected. Two months later, samples of the plantar nerves were collected proximal and distal to the communicating ramus, processed and examined ultrastructurally to determine if transection of the ramus communicans caused axonal Wallerian degeneration of portions of the medial and lateral plantar nerves.