Microsurgery and nerve regeneration: a technical note on intercostal nerves of the swine model

The aim of this article is to present a novel large animal model for studying peripheral nerve regeneration. Large animals present a distinct superiority in mimicking clinical scenarios found in humans.

Swine’s intercostal nerves offer easy surgical access and an adequate number of peripheral nerves for conducting more than one experiment in a single animal. In addition, most of the nerve regeneration assessment methods can be applied in swine’s intercostal nerves.

We describe the exact technique for using this animal model’s intercostal nerves, strong and weak points, different assessment tools and relevant complications. Review of the current literature is verifying the up-to-date lack of studies oriented toward the involvement of this array of peripheral nerves in nerve regeneration research.

We believe that the swine’s intercostal nerves model has all the qualities needed to be established in peripheral nerve research projects.