AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF METHODS FOR BRIDGING NERVE DEFECTS: WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW METHOD OF AUTOTRANSPLANT (AUTO-AUTOTRANSPLANT)

• Introduction. Object.

• Methods used in this research.

  1. Technic used in repair.

  2. Methods of repair.

  3. Testing physiologically.

  4. Anatomic methods.

• Results with different types.

  1. Type 1. Histologic results. Physiologic results.

  2. Type 2. Histologic results. Physiologic results.

  3. Type 3. Histologic results. Physiologic results.

• Discussion of merits of different methods.

• General considerations.

• Summary.

I. INTRODUCTION  In 1918 one of us found that, after removing a tumor of the ulnar nerve, there was such a large gap that it was impossible even by transplanting the nerve into a new bed and flexing the arm to get the two ends together. He, therefore, implanted the central and peripheral ends into longitudinal slits in the median nerve with the idea of using the nerve as a bridge. The nerve regenerated perfectly.The research herewith reported was undertaken to determine the best method of repairing an injured peripheral