Functional and Physical Outcomes following Use of a Flexible CO₂ Laser Fiber and Bipolar Electrocautery in Close Proximity to the Rat Sciatic Nerve with Correlation to an In Vitro Thermal Profile Model

Figure 10

Recordings of the compound nerve potentials (CNPs) amplitudes of nerves immediately after the use of the MALIS at different distances from the sciatic nerve. Each data point is an average of at least five replicate CNP amplitudes normalized to a series of recordings made before MALIS activation. MALIS power settings are indicated as 30 or 40 MALIS with the forceps tip orientation to the nerve in parentheses, that is, parallel (∥) or perpendicular (L). Because the left and right sciatic nerves were often used for different treatments, an individual animal may be represented in two different data sets. The number of replicates is therefore the number of independent nerves. 30 MALIS (L) , 40 MALIS (∥) , and 40 MALIS (L) , from a total of six animals. Power setting amplitudes are significantly different by ANOVA ().