Nerve fiber staining investigations in traumatic and degenerative disc lesions of the wrist

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Frank Unglaub - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heidelberg University , Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)
  • Maya B. Wolf - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heidelberg University , Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)
  • Adrian Dragu - , University Center for Orthopedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Hand Surgery, Heidelberg University , Spine Centre, Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)
  • Stephan Schwarz - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heidelberg University , Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)
  • Markus W. Kroeber - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heidelberg University , Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)
  • Raymund E. Horch - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Heidelberg University , Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna (Author)

Abstract

Purpose: Traumatic and degenerative disc lesions cause ulnar-sided wrist pain. To date, anatomical investigations of cadaver triangular fibrocartilage discs examining the innervation of the triangular fibrocartilage complex have found no evidence of nerve fibers in the healthy disc. In this study, we immunohistologically investigated biopsies from patients with either central traumatic or degenerative disc lesions, to determine the existence of nerve fibers. We hypothesized that an ingrowth of nerve fibers causes ulnar-sided wrist pain associated with traumatic and degenerative disc lesions. Methods: We included 32 patients with a traumatic Palmer 1A lesion and 17 patients with a degenerative Palmer 2C lesion in the study. We obtained a biopsy of each patient and stained the specimen with protein gene product 9.5 for nerve fiber detection. Results: There were no nerve fibers in either traumatic or degenerative disc lesions. In addition, the marginal areas of the biopsies showed no evidence of nerve fibers. Conclusions: Traumatic and degenerative disc lesions show no ingrowth of nerve fibers. Clinical relevance: The ulnar-sided pain associated with traumatic and degenerative disc lesions must have other, currently unknown causes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)843-846
Number of pages4
JournalThe journal of hand surgery : American volume
Volume36
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - May 2011
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 21435801
ORCID /0000-0003-4633-2695/work/145698693

Keywords

Keywords

  • degenerative, innervation, protein gene product 9.5, traumatic, Triangular fibrocartilage complex