Effect of traction force during surgery on physical integrity and histological changes in peripheral nerves: experimental study on rabbits.

Sensory and motor nerve damage is a common complication of maxillofacial surgery and trauma. Procedures such as orthognathic surgery, tumor resection, and salivary gland interventions can damage peripheral nerves when the surrounding soft tissue or the nerve itself is manipulated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histological changes in the sciatic and median nerves of albino rabbits following traction-induced nerve injury. Nine albino rabbits were included in the study and divided equally into three groups, with three rabbits per group. In each rabbit, four peripheral nerves were exposed: the right and left sciatic nerves and the right and left median nerves. In Group A, varying traction forces (0.5 N, 1 N, 1.5 N, and a control of 0 N) were applied to each nerve for 5 minutes. The same traction forces used in Group A were applied to Groups B and C for 10 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively. Nerve fiber abnormalities, as well as damage to the axons, myelin sheath, and connective tissue layers, were assessed through histological examination. Histopathological evaluation of the injured nerves revealed Grade I and Grade II nerve injuries in Group A, while Grade IV and Grade V nerve injuries were noted in Groups B and C, respectively, based on the criteria established by the histopathologist.