ABSTRACT
Blood flow distribution in conventional and vascularized canine nerve grafts was analyzed.
Between 4 and 6 days after operation, blood flow at both the fascicular (endoneural)
and the nerve-sheath (epineural) levels was significantly greater in the nonvascularized
nerve grafts than in their vascularized counterparts (P < 0.025 and P < 0.001, respectively).
The superior flow rates of the conventional grafts illustrate the efficiency of nerve
revascularization, even to the fascicular level. This finding does not support a possible
endoneural vascular advantage of vascularized nerve graft and suggests the need for
further analysis of the role of vascularized nerve grafting.
