Microneurography of human median nerve

Abstract

Purpose:To examine the possibility of performing highresolution MRI (microneurography) on peripheral nerves. Materials and Methods:A specific radio frequency (RF) coil was developed to probe the human median nerve at a magnetic field strength of 9.4 T and tested on three excised samples by acquiring microneurograms. Results:The microneurograms revealed neuronal tissue constituents at subfascicular level. The contrast features on proton-density and T1-and T2-weighted images were described and compared. The microscopic water movement was quantified using diffusion weighting parallel and orthogonal to the neuronal fiber orientation. The characteristics of anisotropic diffusion in the median nerve were comparable to those reported from other biological tissues (white matter and kidney). Conclusion:The results overall suggest that microneurography might provide new noninvasive insights into microscopic gross anatomy of the peripheral nerve, injury evaluation, and efficacy of repair, although the feasibility at current clinically relevant field strengths is yet to be determined.

Sensory Neuron Death After Upper Limb Nerve Injury and Protective Effect of Repair

“…34 Although electromyography and nerve conduction studies are traditionally the gold standard in the assessment of peripheral nerve lesions, MRI promises more responsiveness and earlier confirmation of axonal damage and functional recovery. Additionally, MRI has potential to noninvasively image nerve integrity and localize nerve lesions with great precision, 35 differentiate between demyelinating neurapraxic injury and axonometsis, examine and quantify the dynamics of denervation and regeneration, and distinguish between acute and chronic neurogenic changes. The ability to monitor progress of regenerating axons would facilitate earlier FIGURE 6.…”

Morphological Detection and Functional Assessment of Regenerated Nerve after Neural Prosthesis with a PGLA Nerve Conduit

“…However, it could only reveal nerve continuity or presence of injury and other changes, and was still unable to accurately observe and measure the fine structure inside the nerve. Bilegen et al 16. successfully obtained fine imaging of the human median nerve using MRI with a field intensity of 9.4 T. The aforementioned results reflect very good objectivity and visualization ability of MRI in displaying the morphology of the peripheral nerve.…”

The Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Afferent Proprioceptive Pathway: A Human In Vivo Experimental Study

“…This condition generates altered afferent stimuli and gives rise to altered sensation of wrist spatial movement. 3,28,[53][54][55] …”