MRI detection of peripheral nerve denervation and regeneration: correlation with electromyography and histology

Background: Acute nerve lesions have been shown to cause hyperintense signals on T2 weighted MRI of the nerve. An animal study using a defined nerve lesion was performed to sequentially study MRI changes in the nerve in comparison to electrophysiological alterations and nerve histology in nerve degeneration and regeneration. Methods: Rat sciatic nerve was compressed by a tight suture which was opened after one week. Serial EMG and motor nerve conduction studies were conducted on the first four days after lesion, on day seven and then in weekly intervals parallel to MRI scanning. On defined time points, sciatic n…