Pathophysiology and biomechanics of stretch-induced peripheral nerve injuries

Abstract

Objective: to investigate pathophysiology and biomechanics of the nerve stretching and to form a biomechanical model of a nerve stretch injury. Materials and methods. We analyzed and summarized the data from open access sources (eLibrary, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) with unlimited search depth. A search was performed using the following keywords: растяжение нерва (English: nerve stretching), stretching nerve, biomechanical nerve stretching, nerve stretching injury. Results. Here are presented key historical information and biochemical, neurophysiological, and biomechanical events related to a nerve stretch injury. Objective experimental data on the nerve stretching process are summarized. Conclusions. A nerve is a heterogeneous elastic cord, which can be slightly stretched under physiological conditions due to the involvement of its sheath structures. In a stretched nerve, ischemic lesions have an early onset and further become irreversible. Nerve conduction disorders occur, resulting in a severe neurological deficit. When the nerve is stretched by more than a third, it ruptures and the sequence in which fragmented neural structures occur during nerve tension remains unclear.