CHANGES OF THE SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL NERVE IN RELATION TO THE FREQUENCY OF HIGH-FRACTIONAL AUTODISTRACTION IN ORTHOPEDIC LENGTHENING OF THE TIBIA IN DOGS WITH A DAILY RATE OF 3 MM
The experiments on the elongation of the tibia in 18 dogs were performed for 10 days using the Ilizarov apparatus with an automatic drive providing the pace of 3 mm/day for 120 moves (group 1) and 180 moves (group 2). The impact of fractionation of distraction on the structure of the peroneal nerve was estimated. In group 1, perineurium micro-injuries and endoneural blood vessel destruction were detected. In group 2, perineurium preserved its integrity and fine-lamellar structure, endoneural blood vessels were also preserved, however, the decrease in the total area of nerve fiber bundles was more pronounced. Morphometric analysis of the preserved myelinated nerve fibers 60 days after the cessation of distraction indicated less marked axonal atrophy and better myelination in group 2.