Summary
In this study the morphological effects of local heat application by controlled thermocoagulation to the sciatic nerve of rabbits are investigated. It concentrates on the question of a possible selective elimination of nerve fibres depending on their calibers.
Temperatures of 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 70°C and 90°C were applied for 45 seconds. The nerves were examined histolgically after 2–3 minutes, 7 and 12 days and 5 weeks.
The light and electronmicrographs show no differential vulnerability of small myelinated or unmyelinated fibres as proposed by Sweet and Wepsic [20]. At a temperature of 50°C no fibre is damaged whereas at 60°C the fibre damage extends over nearly the total cut surface of the nerve. Even at the critical temperature of 55°C affecting only part of the cross-section no predilection of any fibre caliber was observed.
In summary thermocoagulation seems not to be able to cause selective fibre damage.
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Fröhling, M., Schlote, W. & Wolburg-Buchholz, K. Nonselective Nerve Fibre Damage in Peripheral Nerves after Experimental Thermocoagulation. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 140, 1297–1302 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007010050253
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007010050253