Visualization of the vascularity of the peripheral nerve by indocyanine green fluorescence angiography and its clinical application for treatment of entrapment neuropathy

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Osaka City University
• Principal Investigator: OKADA Mitsuhiro 大阪市立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 講師 (40309571)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 末梢神経絞扼性障害 / 蛍光造影法 / 神経 / 血流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The peripheral nerve has abundant vascularity inside. The vascularity decreases when the peripheral nerve is compressed. Treatments for entrapment neuropathy may be useful from the viewpoint of the vascularity. However, angiography of the peripheral nerve was difficult by conventional imaging examinations. In this study, we succeeded in evaluating the vascularity of the peripheral nerve by use of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography. Entrapment neuropathy causes fibrosis of the epineurium, which decreases the vascularity of the peripheral nerve. Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography enabled to visualize the improvement of the vascularity after epineurotomy. This intervention resulted in significant clinical improvements.
Our study suggested that indocyanine green fluorescence angiography focusing on the vascularity of the peripheral nerve be useful for the treatment of entrapment neuropathy.

Free Research Field

整形外科学