Effects of nerve bundle geometry on neurotrauma evaluation

TL;DR

This study uses a 3D finite element model to analyze how nerve bundle geometry and damage affect strain and electrical activity, revealing differences between myelinated and unmyelinated fibers under mechanical trauma.

Contribution

The paper introduces a comprehensive 3D electromechanical model to simulate nerve bundle damage, highlighting the impact of geometry and fiber type on injury response.

Findings

Unmyelinated fibers show less strain and electrophysiological impairment than myelinated fibers.

Larger nerve bundles experience more deformation under mechanical stress.

Smaller fibers tolerate higher elongation before failure.

Abstract

Objective: We confirm that alteration of a neuron structure can induce abnormalities in signal propagation for nervous systems, as observed in brain damage. Here, we investigate the effects of geometrical changes and damage of a neuron structure in 2 scaled nerve bundle models, made of myelinated nerve fibers or unmyelinated nerve fibers. Methods: We propose a 3D finite element model of nerve bundles, combining a real-time full electromechanical coupling, a modulated threshold for spiking activation, and independent alteration of the electrical properties for each fiber. We then simulate mechanical compression and tension to induce damage at the membrane of a nerve bundle made of 4 fibers. We examine the resulting changes in strain and neural activity by considering in turn the cases of intact and traumatized nerve membranes. Results: Our results show lower strain and lower electrophysiological impairments in unmyelinated fibers than in myelinated fibers, higher deformation levels in larger bundles, and higher electrophysiological impairments in smaller bundles. Conclusion: We conclude that the insulation sheath of myelin constricts the membrane deformation and scatters plastic strains within the bundle, that larger bundles deform more than small bundles, and that small fibers tolerate a higher level of elongation before mechanical failure.