Multiple lumbar roots neurotizations with the lower intercostal nerves. Preliminary clinical and electrophysiological results in a sheep model.

Introduction: Neurotization of lumbar roots with lower intercostal nerves is a potential way to treat neurological deficits after spinal cord injury. The anatomical feasibility of such neurotizations in humans has already been reported. We propose to assess axonal regrowth after intercostal to lumbar neurotization in a sheep model.

The feasibility of detecting motor and sensory potentials in a sheep model.

To investigate the characteristics of motor, sensory and sensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) of thoracic and lumbar roots, and demonstrate the feasibility of assessing axonal regrowth after the neurotization procedure in a sheep model. Six adult sheep were anaesthetized and placed in a sternal position. The thoracic and lumbar roots from T11 to L5 were identified at their emergence from the vertebral foramen and stimulated.

Anatomical feasibility of using the ninth, 10th, and 11th intercostal nerves for the treatment of neurological deficits after damage to the spinal cord.

Object: The topographic anatomy of the lower intercostal nerves is less well known than that of the upper ones, except for the 12th intercostal nerve. It is possible to use the lower intercostal nerves to perform a neurotization of the lumbar roots. The authors studied the anatomy of the ninth, 10th, and 11th intercostal nerves to obtain descriptive and topographic anatomical data to aid in establishing optimal conditions for harvesting.