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J Reconstr Microsurg 2001; 17(7): 531-534
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17755
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Standardizing Nerve Crushes with a Non-Serrated Clamp

Gertrude M. Beer1 , Johannes Steurer2 , Viktor E. Meyer1
  • 1Clinic for Hand, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 2Institute of Industrial Electronic and Material Sciences, University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
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Publication History

Publication Date:
12 October 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Standardized experimental nerve crush attempts should include the number, duration, and intensity (amount of pressure) of crushes. The authors have developed a new crushing device, a clamp with which predetermined forces can be applied to nerves. This allows the exertion of different, standardized forces to crush a nerve within a scale that produces second-degree injuries. The main advantages of the clamp are that it is small, although very robust, is purely mechanical, and is easy to handle. The jaws of the clamp are not serrated, so that pressure on the nerve is uniformly transmitted. To avoid unintended nerve damage, the edges of the jaws are smoothly rounded off. The closure of the clamp is mechanized by a spring. As the spring is exchangeable, any number of different preloads are available. The force can be varied, according to different requirements, and is applicable to variantly thick nerves in any experimental animal, thus enhancing standardization, and making cross-over comparisons of experimental study results possible.

KEYWORD

Non-serrated clamp - nerve crush - standardization

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