Intercostolumbar Spinal Nerve Anastomosis: An Experimental Study in Dogs

Abstract

End-to-end anastomoses were done between the motor roots of T12 and T13 intercostal nerves and the ipsilateral transsected L1 lumbar nerve in four dogs. In three of the dogs, the clinical and electrophysiologic findings showed functional viability of the intercostolumbar anastomosis 3.5 months after the anastomosis was done. The method may be practical for reinnervating an injured lumbar nerve with two intercostal nerves or to bypass a spinal cord lesion.