Three-dimensional Visualization Of Internal Microstructure Of Human Sciatic Nerve

Background:The healing and rehabilitation after sciatic nerve injuries are one of the intensive topics in traumatic surgery.No matter what reparative technology is applied,the basic destination is to suture the original nerve-tracts,to restore identical function ones and to create the optimum conditions for regenerated axis cylinders reaching the peripheral organs and functional recovery.But in clinical practice,the effect is not quite ideal.The considerable agent is that the distal and proximal end of funiculi with identical functions can't be accurately sutured,which lead to irregular accretion in nerve fibres.So constructing the three -dimensional microstructure of nerve-tracts in sciatic nerves and comprehending the decussate and custom-crafted regularity have very important clinical significances.Objective:The two-dimensional human sciatic nerve image information of series freezing tissue sections stained with Ache was acquired ordinally, then the three-dimensional visualization of the sciatic nerve was investigated with 3D-Nerve software systems.Methods:One fresh sciatic nerve specimen was dissected,tagged with female hairs and embedded in OCT.Series freezing tissue sections were made,stained with AChe histochemically,acquired the two-dimensional imageinformation through high resolution scanner.Finally, three-dimensional microstructure was reconstructed with 3D-nerve software.Results:The number,size,form and pattern of the sciatic nerve funiculi vary continually in different transverse sections.The funiculi unit divides frequently at some proximal transverse sections while there are rarely changes at the distal levels.The microstructure of the nerve funiculi is displayed distinctly at different transverse sections and three-dimensional images was reconstructed with 3D-nerve software system.In addition,we can observe them in different angles.Conclusions:The two-dimensional and three-dimensional microstructure of the funiculi of human sciatic nerve were clearly reconstructed with 3D-nerve,which might provide an effective method for three-dimensional visualization of sciatic nerve and supply references to understand the microstructure of sciatic nerve for medical students and surgeons.It is also useful for the repairing process of sciatic nerve injury by providing the precise regional anatomic structure atlas of the nerve.