The Grasping Test Revisited: A Systematic Review of Functional Recovery in Rat Models of Median Nerve Injury
Henrik Lauer,
Cosima Prahm,
Johannes Tobias Thiel,
Jonas Kolbenschlag,
Adrien Daigeler,
David Hercher,
Johannes C. Heinzel
Affiliations
Henrik Lauer
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Cosima Prahm
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Johannes Tobias Thiel
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Jonas Kolbenschlag
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Adrien Daigeler
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
David Hercher
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, The Research Center in Cooperation with AUVA, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1200 Vienna, Austria
Johannes C. Heinzel
Department of Hand-, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Unfallklinik Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 95, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
The rat median nerve model is a well-established and frequently used model for peripheral nerve injury and repair. The grasping test is the gold-standard to evaluate functional recovery in this model. However, no comprehensive review exists to summarize the course of functional recovery in regard to the lesion type. According to PRISMA-guidelines, research was performed, including the databases PubMed and Web of Science. Groups were: (1) crush injury, (2) transection with end-to-end or with (3) end-to-side coaptation and (4) isogenic or acellular allogenic grafting. Total and respective number, as well as rat strain, type of nerve defect, length of isogenic or acellular allogenic allografts, time at first signs of motor recovery (FSR) and maximal recovery grasping strength (MRGS), were evaluated. In total, 47 articles met the inclusion criteria. Group I showed earliest signs of motor recovery. Slow recovery was observable in group III and in graft length above 25 mm. Isografts recovered faster compared to other grafts. The onset and course of recovery is heavily dependent from the type of nerve injury. The grasping test should be used complementary in addition to other volitional and non-volitional tests. Repetitive examinations should be planned carefully to optimize assessment of valid and reliable data.
