The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body giving both motor and sensory innervations to the lower limb. It can be affected in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, or compressed anatomically by structures such as piriformis and aneurysms leading to sciatica or paralysis of the lower limb. The current study therefore focuses on the arterial supply of the sciatic nerve as well as its course. Embryologically, the sciatic nerve is supplied via the axial artery during the first trimester. As the axial artery regresses, the iliac system develops. A failure of sciatic artery regression leads to several variations of pelvic and femoral arteries, with a risk of iatrogenic injury/trauma for those patients undergoing pelvic, gluteal and thigh surgical procedures. An understanding of the variability of the pelvic arteries in relation to a coexistent sciatic artery will provide an appropriate background for clinicians. The present study proposes a new theory of sciatic artery development and persistence, as well as new theories for the superior and inferior gluteal, internal pudendal and obturator arteries. The thesis is in two parts: first an anatomical study on the dissection of 171 cadavers including the pelvic, gluteal and thigh regions to observe (i) the patterns of the arteries these regions, and (ii) the course of the sciatic nerve. With variable course of sciatic nerve, there is a variability of its blood supply. Moreover, it includes a new classification of sciatic nerve with respect to clinical implications. The thesis clarifies the origins of the sciatic artery and its course. The second part is a literature review of sciatic artery aneurysm cases in 171 patients, which clarifies the risk of aneurysm, together with its incidence with respect to pathologic finding and associated disorders. Radiologists have to be aware of the internal iliac artery classifications to be able to alert general surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, obstetricians, gynecologists, and urologists so that they can improve patient management.

published_or_final_version / Anatomy / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction utilizing a hamstring autograft is a surgical technique that has gained popularity among orthopedic surgeons caring for adolescent patients. While utilization of a hamstring autograft is a revered technique, harvest of the hamstring yields significant pain. Sciatic peripheral nerve blockade has proven to reliably provide analgesia at the hamstring donor site. Single-injection sciatic peripheral nerve blockade is considered a basic and effective technique, making its use following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction standard practice in many institutions. The duration of action of a single-injection sciatic peripheral nerve blockade may fail to outlast the pain arising from the hamstring donor site, prompting some clinicians to employ continuous sciatic peripheral nerve blockade via an indwelling catheter. A lack of comparative effectiveness studies exists in the literature regarding the duration of action of peripheral nerve blockade necessary to adequately provide pain control following hamstring autograft harvest, resulting in disagreement among clinicians as to best pain control practices. Proponents of continuous sciatic peripheral nerve blockade assert that while more costly, the extended duration of analgesia afforded by this technique improves pain control postoperatively and decreases the use of other pain medications. Advocates of single-injection sciatic peripheral nerve blockade cite concerns associated with continuous sciatic peripheral nerve blockade known to be detrimental to rehabilitation, such as decreased active knee flexion and increased risk of falls. The purpose of this research is to compare the effect of single-injection sciatic PNB to continuous sciatic PNB on 1) postoperative pain control as measured by self-reported pain scores, pain medication use, and unplanned hospital admission due to poor pain control, 2) active knee flexion, and 3) patient satisfaction with pain control following ACL reconstruction with a hamstring autograft. The findings of this study have the potential to guide informed clinical reasoning and decision making regarding sciatic peripheral nerve blockade techniques following hamstring autograft harvest in adolescents undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Análise da expressão de neurotrofinas durante a regeneração de nervo periférico de rato por enxerto venoso Enxertos de veias têm sido empregados para preencher lacunas em nervos periféricos transeccionados para melhor recuperação funcional. No entanto, vários inconvenientes, como a constrição do enxerto secundário foram observados. Uma nova alternativa para esta técnica foi desenvolvida. Simplesmente invertendo a veia de dentro para fora, chamado do Inside- out vein graft. As neurotrofinas são uma família de fatores neurotróficos conhecidos por desempenhar um papel significativo na regeneração de nervos periféricos. A família da neurotrofina é constituído por fator de crescimento nervoso (NGF), fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF), Neurotrofina-3 (NT-3) e Neurotrofina-4 (NT-4). No campo da neurobiologia, vários autores têm utilizado a técnica de PCR a fim de obter mais informações sobre os nervos regenerados. Neste estudo, foi utilizada a técnica de biologia molecular para explorar o papel e o nível das neurotrofinas durante a regeneração de nervos periféricos com enxerto de veia. O nervo isquiático de ratos foi seccionado e reparado com enxerto de veia invertida (IOVG) e técnicas de enxerto de veia padrão (SVG). No grupo controle, os ratos foram operados e o nervo isquiático foi mantido intacto. Os animais foram sacrificados após 6 e 12 semanas e os enxertos foram colhidos para observar o nível das neurotrofinas. Músculos EDL e Sóleo foram excisados e pesados para determinar a diferença de peso entre os grupos. Um pequeno segmento dos cotos distais de ambos os grupos SVG e IOVG também foram excisados e foram processados histologicamente para examinar a quantidade de axónios regenerados. Além disso, um outro pequeno segmento do coto distal foi processado para RT-PCR para analisar o nível das neurotrofinas nesta área.A tecnica do walk track analysis foi realizada para determinar o índice funcional do nervo isquiático nos grupos. Em 6 semanas, não ocorreu crescimento neuronal significativo no coto distal dos dois tipos de enxertos, porém um crescimento foi observado em 12 semanas. Não houve diferença significativa na massa muscular entre IOVG e SVG em ambos os períodos de tempo. No entanto, um aumento significativo na massa muscular foi observado a partir de 6 a 12 semanas nos grupos IOVG e SVG. Um aumento significativo na produção de NT-3 foi observado no grupo de SVG em ambos, enxerto e o coto distal quando comparados a partir de 6 a 12 semanas, no entanto, não houve aumento observado no nível de neurotrofinas dos outros tipos (NGF e NT-4) . Surpreendentemente, não houve aumento significativo da NT-3 no grupo IOVG. Conclui-se que, entre as neurotrofinas avaliadas neste estudo, não há nenhuma diferença significativa no seu nível de RNAm entre os dois grupos, exceto NT-3. Finalmente, uma vez que o nível de RNAm de NT-3 aumenta significativamente entre 6 e 12 semanas no grupo SVG e não no IOVG, observado por estas duas técnicas de nível molecular, estudos adicionais necessitam serem feitos para decifrar o mecanismo exato. / Vein grafts have been employed to bridge the gap in transected peripheral nerves to produce better functional recovery. However several disadvantages such as secondary graft constriction were observed and a new alternative to this technique was developed by simply reversing the vein inside out. Both inside out and standard vein grafts were successfully used in recovering the sensory segmental defect in humans. Neurotrophins are a family of eurotrophic factors known to play an important role in the regeneration of peripheral nerves. The neurotrophin family consists of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and Neurotropinh-4 (NT-4). In the neurobiology field, several authors have been using PCR technique in order to gain more information regarding regenerated nerves. In this study, we employed this molecular biology technique to explore the role and level of the neurotrophins during the peripheral nerve regeneration with vein graft. The sciatic nerve of rats were sectioned and repaired with Inside out vein graft (IOVG) and standard vein graft techniques (SVG). In the control group the rats were sham operated wherein the sciatic nerve was kept intact. The animals were euthanized at 6 and 12 weeks and the grafts were harvested to observe the level the neurotrophins. EDL and Sol muscles were excised and measured to determine any weight difference between the groups. A small segment of the distal stumps from both the SVG and IOVG groups were also excised and were subjected to histological process to examine the amount of regenerated axon. In addition, another small segment of the distal stump was processed for RT-PCR to further examine the level of the neurotrophins in this area. At 6 weeks, no significant neuronal growth was observed in the distal stump of both graft types but a distinct growth was seen at 12 weeks. Walk track analysis showed poor motor function recovery in the experimental groups during both time intervals. Morphometric analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the amount of myelination between both the groups. There was no significant difference in the muscle mass between IOVG and SVG in both time periods. However, a significant increase in both the muscle mass was observed from 6 to 12 weeks in the IOVG and SVG groups. A significant increase in the production of NT-3 was observed in SVG group in both the distal stump and graft segment when compared from 6 to 12 weeks; however there was no observed increase in the level of other neurotrophins (NGF and NT-4). Surprisingly, no significant increase of NT-3 was noticed in the IOVG group. We conclude that amongst the neurotrophins evaluated in this study, there is no significant difference in their mRNA level between both groups except NT-3. Also, since mRNA level of NT-3 increases significantly between 6 and 12 weeks in SVG and not in IOVG, it suggests that the mechanism by which these two techniques operate at a molecular level may differ and further studies need to be done to decipher the exact mechanism.

Previous studies have suggested that sympathetic sprouting in the periphery may contribute to the development and persistence of sympathetically-maintained pain in animal models of neuropathic pain. The purpose of this thesis was to examine morphological changes in the cutaneous innervation in rats after chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve. More specifically, this study addresses the question of whether sympathetic fibres sprout de novo into the upper dermis of the rat hindpaw skin after CCI of the sciatic nerve. We also determined changes in peptidergic sensory innervation following CCI. / At several periods post-injury, hind paw skin was harvested and processed using a monoclonal antibody against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase to detect sympathetic fibres and a polyclonal antibody against calcitonin gene-related peptide to identify peptidergic sensory fibres. We observed migration and branching of sympathetic fibres into the upper dermis of the hind paw skin, from where they were normally absent. This migration was first detected at 2 weeks, peaked at 4 to 6 weeks and lasted for at least 20 weeks post-lesion. At 8 weeks post-lesion, there was a dramatic increase in the density of peptidergic fibres in the upper dermis. Quantification revealed that densities of peptidergic fibres 8 weeks post-lesion were significantly above levels of sham animals. Interestingly, the ectopic sympathetic fibres did not innervate blood vessels but formed a novel association and wrapped around sprouted peptidergic nociceptive fibres. Our data show a long-term sympathetic and sensory innervation change in the rat hind paw skin after the chronic constriction injury. This novel fibre arrangement after nerve lesion may play an important role in the development and persistence of sympathetically-maintained neuropathic pain after partial nerve lesions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 119-140).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 133-171).

Orientador: Fausto Viterbo / Banca: Antonio de Castro Rodrigues / Banca: Gerson Chadi / Banca: Antonio João Tedesco-Marchese / Banca: Jesus Carlos Andreo / Resumo: Foram estudadas neste trabalho quatro maneiras de regenerar o nervo ciático do rato em "gap" de 1O milímetros mediante tubulização com v4e'ia n.o.r.m. al e ao avesso, preenchida ou não com o músculo tibial caudal direito:"Foram utilizados 70 ratos Wistar, machos, pesando entre 180 a 210 g, divididos em quatro grupos experimentais com 15 animais cada grupo (VASP - veia ao avesso sem preenchimento; VAME - veia ao avesso preenchida com músculo esquelético; VNSP - veia normal sem preenchimento e VNME - veia normal preenchida com músculo esquelético) e um grupo com 10 animais (Sham) usado como controle. A veia jugular externa esquerda foi utilizada como enxerto venoso. No grupo "Sham" o nervo ciático direito foi exposto sem realizar-se nenhum procedimento sobre o mesmo. Os animais foram sacrificados 12 semanas após a cirurgia. Retirou-se amostras nos locais dos enxertos e nos cotos distais do nervo reparado, destinadas às observações histomorfológicas e morfométricas. Para a análise estatística dos cinco grupos experimentais utilizou-se a análise de variância (ANOV A) com teste F e o método de Scheffé. Observou-se regeneração nervosa em todos os grupos. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos nos grupos VASP, VAME e VNSP. O pior resultado foi com o grupo VNME na maioria dos atributos analisados, tanto no enxerto quanto no coto distal. / Abstract: The venous tubulization procedure filled with muscle was used to study nerve regeneration of the right sciatic nerve a 10 mm gap using different procedures. Seventy male Wistar rats weighting 180 to 210 g were divided into four experimental groups: inside-out vein graft (lOVG); inside-out vein graft filled with skeletal muscle (lOVGSM); standard vein graft (SVG) and standard vein graft filled with skeletal muscle (SVGSM), with 15 animaIs each. Ten rats were used as sham control. Left external jugular vein were harvested and used to bridge a 10 mm gap. 1n sham group the right sciatic nerve was expose without achieve someone procedure on nerve. AnimaIs were sacrificed 12 weeks after tubulization and fragments obtained from the grafts and distal stumps were histomorphometric analyzed. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, F-test and Scheffe's method) indicated that the best results regarding nerve regeneration were observed in 10VG; 10VGSM and SVG groups. The worst result was obtained with SVGSM. / Doutor

Análise da expressão de neurotrofinas durante a regeneração de nervo periférico de rato por enxerto venoso Enxertos de veias têm sido empregados para preencher lacunas em nervos periféricos transeccionados para melhor recuperação funcional. No entanto, vários inconvenientes, como a constrição do enxerto secundário foram observados. Uma nova alternativa para esta técnica foi desenvolvida. Simplesmente invertendo a veia de dentro para fora, chamado do Inside- out vein graft. As neurotrofinas são uma família de fatores neurotróficos conhecidos por desempenhar um papel significativo na regeneração de nervos periféricos. A família da neurotrofina é constituído por fator de crescimento nervoso (NGF), fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF), Neurotrofina-3 (NT-3) e Neurotrofina-4 (NT-4). No campo da neurobiologia, vários autores têm utilizado a técnica de PCR a fim de obter mais informações sobre os nervos regenerados. Neste estudo, foi utilizada a técnica de biologia molecular para explorar o papel e o nível das neurotrofinas durante a regeneração de nervos periféricos com enxerto de veia. O nervo isquiático de ratos foi seccionado e reparado com enxerto de veia invertida (IOVG) e técnicas de enxerto de veia padrão (SVG). No grupo controle, os ratos foram operados e o nervo isquiático foi mantido intacto. Os animais foram sacrificados após 6 e 12 semanas e os enxertos foram colhidos para observar o nível das neurotrofinas. Músculos EDL e Sóleo foram excisados e pesados para determinar a diferença de peso entre os grupos. Um pequeno segmento dos cotos distais de ambos os grupos SVG e IOVG também foram excisados e foram processados histologicamente para examinar a quantidade de axónios regenerados. Além disso, um outro pequeno segmento do coto distal foi processado para RT-PCR para analisar o nível das neurotrofinas nesta área.A tecnica do walk track analysis foi realizada para determinar o índice funcional do nervo isquiático nos grupos. Em 6 semanas, não ocorreu crescimento neuronal significativo no coto distal dos dois tipos de enxertos, porém um crescimento foi observado em 12 semanas. Não houve diferença significativa na massa muscular entre IOVG e SVG em ambos os períodos de tempo. No entanto, um aumento significativo na massa muscular foi observado a partir de 6 a 12 semanas nos grupos IOVG e SVG. Um aumento significativo na produção de NT-3 foi observado no grupo de SVG em ambos, enxerto e o coto distal quando comparados a partir de 6 a 12 semanas, no entanto, não houve aumento observado no nível de neurotrofinas dos outros tipos (NGF e NT-4) . Surpreendentemente, não houve aumento significativo da NT-3 no grupo IOVG. Conclui-se que, entre as neurotrofinas avaliadas neste estudo, não há nenhuma diferença significativa no seu nível de RNAm entre os dois grupos, exceto NT-3. Finalmente, uma vez que o nível de RNAm de NT-3 aumenta significativamente entre 6 e 12 semanas no grupo SVG e não no IOVG, observado por estas duas técnicas de nível molecular, estudos adicionais necessitam serem feitos para decifrar o mecanismo exato. / Vein grafts have been employed to bridge the gap in transected peripheral nerves to produce better functional recovery. However several disadvantages such as secondary graft constriction were observed and a new alternative to this technique was developed by simply reversing the vein inside out. Both inside out and standard vein grafts were successfully used in recovering the sensory segmental defect in humans. Neurotrophins are a family of eurotrophic factors known to play an important role in the regeneration of peripheral nerves. The neurotrophin family consists of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and Neurotropinh-4 (NT-4). In the neurobiology field, several authors have been using PCR technique in order to gain more information regarding regenerated nerves. In this study, we employed this molecular biology technique to explore the role and level of the neurotrophins during the peripheral nerve regeneration with vein graft. The sciatic nerve of rats were sectioned and repaired with Inside out vein graft (IOVG) and standard vein graft techniques (SVG). In the control group the rats were sham operated wherein the sciatic nerve was kept intact. The animals were euthanized at 6 and 12 weeks and the grafts were harvested to observe the level the neurotrophins. EDL and Sol muscles were excised and measured to determine any weight difference between the groups. A small segment of the distal stumps from both the SVG and IOVG groups were also excised and were subjected to histological process to examine the amount of regenerated axon. In addition, another small segment of the distal stump was processed for RT-PCR to further examine the level of the neurotrophins in this area. At 6 weeks, no significant neuronal growth was observed in the distal stump of both graft types but a distinct growth was seen at 12 weeks. Walk track analysis showed poor motor function recovery in the experimental groups during both time intervals. Morphometric analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the amount of myelination between both the groups. There was no significant difference in the muscle mass between IOVG and SVG in both time periods. However, a significant increase in both the muscle mass was observed from 6 to 12 weeks in the IOVG and SVG groups. A significant increase in the production of NT-3 was observed in SVG group in both the distal stump and graft segment when compared from 6 to 12 weeks; however there was no observed increase in the level of other neurotrophins (NGF and NT-4). Surprisingly, no significant increase of NT-3 was noticed in the IOVG group. We conclude that amongst the neurotrophins evaluated in this study, there is no significant difference in their mRNA level between both groups except NT-3. Also, since mRNA level of NT-3 increases significantly between 6 and 12 weeks in SVG and not in IOVG, it suggests that the mechanism by which these two techniques operate at a molecular level may differ and further studies need to be done to decipher the exact mechanism.