Which End is Up? Terminology for Terminolateral (End-to-Side) Nerve Repair: A Review

ABSTRACT

By convention, we “come from” and “go to.” A flap has a donor site and goes to a recipient site. A transplant comes from a donor and goes to a recipient. Neural regeneration proceeds from proximal to distal. It seems most appropriate then for a nerve repair description to follow this logical order. Therefore an “end-to-side” repair would mean that the donor nerve, the nerve that is providing the axons with which to neurotize the recipient nerve, should be the nerve named first. An end-to-side repair would therefore require that the nerve whose end is sutured into the side of the recipient nerve be the nerve that is bringing the proximal axons to regenerate distally, for whatever that purpose may be, sensory or motor. A side-to-end repair would therefore require that the nerve whose side is sutured to the end of the recipient nerve be the nerve that is bringing the proximal axons to regenerate distally, for whatever that purpose may be, sensory or motor. The full descriptive phrase must include whether the intent is to reinnervate a skin target and is, therefore, a sensory repair, or to reinnervate a motor target. The names of both the donor and the recipient nerves must be specified. Illustrations of these logical possibilities are shown in this review of the modern history of “end-to-side” or “side-to-end” nerve coaptations.

Neurorrhaphy - neurotization - end-to-side

REFERENCES

• 1 Millesi H, Terzis J K. Nomenclature in peripheral nerve surgery. Committee report of the International Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery.  Clin Plast Surg. 1984;  11 3-8
• 2 Ballance C A, Ballance H A, Stewart P. Remarks on the operative treatment of chronic facial palsy of peripheral origin.  BMJ. 1903;  1 1009-1013
• 3 Terzis J K. ‘Babysitters’: an exciting new concept in facial reanimation. The Facial Nerve. Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on the Facial Nerve. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 2–5, 1988:525. D Castro ed Amsterdam, Berkeley, Milano; Kugler and Ghedini Publications 1990
• 4 Viterbo F, Trindade J C, Hoshino K, Mazzoni Neto A. Latero-terminal neurorrhaphy without removal of the epineural sheath. Experimental study in rats.  Rev Paul Med. 1992;  110 267-275
• 5 Meals R A, Nelissen R G. The origin and meaning of “Neurotization”.  J Hand Surg Am. 1995;  20 144-146
• 6 Vanlair C. De la geneneration des nerfs peripheriques par le procede de la suture tubulaire.  Arch Biol (Liege). 1882;  3 379-496
• 7 Spitzy H. Die Bedeutung der Nervenplastik fuer die Orthopodaedie Zietschrift fuer.  Orthopaed Chirurgie. 1904;  13 327-355
• 8 Erlacher P. Direct and muscular neurotization of paralyzed muscles.  Am J Orthop Surg (Phila Pa). 1915;  13 22-32
• 9 Hacker V. Erfolgreich operativ behandelte, Cucullarislaehmung, Verein der Aerztein Steirermark.  Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1908;  21 1314-1315
• 10 Steindler A. The method of direct neurotization of paralyzed muscles.  Am J Orthop Surg. 1915;  13 33-45
• 11 Elsberg C A. Experiments on motor nerve regeneration and the direct neurotization of paralyzed muscles by their own and by foreign nerves.  Science. 1917;  45 318-320
• 12 Lurje A S. On the use of N. Musculocutaneous for neurotization of N. Radialis in cases of very large defects of the latter.  Ann Surg. 1948;  128 110-115
• 13 Brunelli G, Monini L. Neurotization of avulsed roots of the brachial plexus by means of anterior nerves of cervical plexus.  Clin Plast Surg. 1984;  11 149-152
• 14 Brunelli G, Brunelli L M. Direct neurotization of severely damaged denervated muscles.  Int Surg. 1980;  65 529-531
• 15 Brunelli G, Monini L. Direct muscular neurotization.  J Hand Surg Am. 1985;  10 993-997
• 16 Francel T J, Dellon A L. Functional limb salvage combining gastrocnemius neurotization and posterior tibial nerve grafting: a case report.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 1992;  8 209-213 discussion 213-214
• 17 Mackinnon S E, McLean J A, Hunter G A. Direct muscle neurotization recovers gastrocnemius muscle function.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 1993;  9 77-80
• 18 Dellon A L, Mackinnon S E. Reanimation following facial paralysis by adjacent muscle neurotization: experimental model in the primate.  Microsurgery. 1989;  10 251-255
• 19 Narakas A. Chapter 32: Thoughts on neurotization or nerve transfers in irreparable nerve lesions. In: Terzis J Microreconstruction of Nerve Injuries. Philadelphia, PA; Saunders 1987: 447-454
• 20 Oberlin C, Beal D, Leechavengvongs S, Salon A, Dauge M C, Sarcy J J. Nerve transfer to biceps muscle using a part of the ulnar nerve for C5–6 avulsion of the brachial plexus: anatomical study and report of four cases.  J Hand Surg Am. 1994;  19 232-237
• 21 Mackinnon S E, Colbert S H. Nerve transfers in the hand and upper extremity surgery.  Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2008;  12 20-33
• 22 Turnbull F. Radial-median anastomosis.  J Neurosurg. 1948;  5 562-566
• 23 Chacha P B, Krishnamurti A, Soin K. Experimental sensory reinnervation of the median nerve by nerve transfer in monkeys.  J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1977;  59 386-390
• 24 Lewis Jr R C, Tenny J R, Irvine D. The restoration of sensibility by nerve translocation.  Bull Hosp Jt Dis Orthop Inst. 1984;  44 288-296
• 25 Bedeschi P, Celli L, Balli A. Transfer of sensor nerves in hand surgery.  J Hand Surg Br. 1984;  9 46-49
• 26 Ducic I, Dellon A L, Bogue D P. Radial sensory neurotization of the thumb and index finger for prehension after proximal median and ulnar nerve injuries.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 2006;  22 73-78
• 27 Aszmann O C, Korak K J, Rab M, Grunbeck M, Lassmann H, Frey M. Neuroma prevention by end-to-side neurorraphy: an experimental study in rats.  J Hand Surg Am. 2003;  28 1022-1028
• 28 Viterbo F, Ripari W T. Nerve grafts prevent paraplegic pressure ulcers.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 2008;  24 251-253
• 29 Haninec P, Sámal F, Tomás R, Houstava L, Dubovwý P. Direct repair (nerve grafting), neurotization, and end-to-side neurorrhaphy in the treatment of brachial plexus injury.  J Neurosurg. 2007;  106 391-399
• 30 Swanson A N, Wolfe S W, Khazzam M, Feinberg J, Ehteshami J, Doty S. Comparison of neurotization versus nerve repair in an animal model of chronically denervated muscle.  J Hand Surg Am. 2008;  33 1093-1099
• 31 Al-Qattan M M. Terminolateral neurorrhaphy: review of experimental and clinical studies.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 2001;  17 99-108
• 32 Zhang F, Fisher K A. End-to-side neurorraphy.  Microsurgery. 2002;  22 122-127
• 33 Geuna S, Papalia I, Tos P. End-to-side (terminolateral) nerve regeneration: a challenge for neuroscientists coming from an intriguing nerve repair concept.  Brain Res Rev. 2006;  52 381-388
• 34 Spyropoulou G A, Lykoudis E G, Batistatou A et al.. New pure motor nerve experimental model for the comparative study between end-to-end and end-to-side neurorrhaphy in free muscle flap neurotization.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 2007;  23 391-398
• 35 Dvali L T, Myckatyn T M. End-to-side nerve repair: review of the literature and clinical indications.  Hand Clin. 2008;  24 455-460, vii
• 36 Dahlin L B, Bontioti E, Kataoka K, Kanje M. Functional recovery and mechanisms in end-to-side nerve repair in rats.  Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2007;  100 93-95
• 37 Brenner M J, Dvali L, Hunter D A, Myckatyn T M, Mackinnon S E. Motor neuron regeneration through end-to-side repairs is a function of donor nerve axotomy.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;  120 215-223
• 38 Isaacs J E, Cheatham S, Gagnon E B, Razavi A, McDowell C L. Reverse end-to-side neurotization in a regenerating nerve.  J Reconstr Microsurg. 2008;  24 489-496
• 39 Sunderland S. Nerves and Nerve Injuries. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone 1978
• 40 Lundborg G. Nerve Injury and Repair. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone 1988
• 41 Mackinnon S E, Dellon A L. Peripheral Nerve Surgery. Stuttgart, NY; Thieme 1988
• 42 Dellon A L. Chapter 249: History of peripheral nerve surgery. In: Winn HR Youmans Neurological Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA; WB Saunders 2004: 3798-3808