OBJECTIVETo study the changes of the muscle strength after the selective tibial neurotomy and the relationship between the changes and the quantities of neurotomy, and to discuss the clinical significances.

METHODSTwenty-four normal SD rats were divided into 4 groups with 6 in each. In group A, the left tibia nerve were cut off by 80%. 60% in group B, 40% in group C, 20% in group D, with the right as the control side. After 6 weeks measure the strength of the crural triceps and the weight of them.

RESULTSIn all the groups muscle weight and muscle strength decreased. 88.2% strength decreased on the average in group A, 54.2% in group B, 19.5% in group C, 4.7% in group D.

CONCLUSIONIt will not damage strength of the crural triceps to cut off below 40% tibial nerve in SD rats.

Animals ; Female ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle Denervation ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibial Nerve ; surgery

Ankle spasticity following brain injury leads to abnormal posture and joint contracture; making standing or walking impossible. This study investigates the efficacy of selective tibial neurotomy (STN) and intensive rehabilitation in a patient who suffered ankle spasticity after brain injury. This case describes a 37-year-old man whose traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulted in severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. He was unable to stand due to severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. Intensive rehabilitation and STN allowed him to walk without brace at 6 months and run at 12 months after STN. STN is an effective procedure to resolve localized spasticity of the ankle and it may be considered as a management strategy after local injection to alleviate ankle spasticity and/or contracture prior to orthopaedic surgery.
Adult ; Ankle Joint/innervation ; Brain Injuries/*complications ; Contracture/etiology/rehabilitation/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity/etiology/*rehabilitation/*surgery ; Quadriplegia/*complications/*rehabilitation/surgery ; Recovery of Function ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology/*surgery ; Walking