Digital nerve grafts in replanted digits.

In most cases where digits have been amputated by avulsion and the digital nerve extensively injured, primary nerve suture cannot be performed. For such a digit when replanted, secondary nerve grafting was done under the operating microscope using a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Two years after operation, two-point discrimination of these cases proved to be 10.5 mm on average. And in the case of the transplanted three strand cable graft, using a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve yielded the most favourable results. The replacement was superior to the side receiving primary crushed nerve suture. Sensory nerve action potentials indicate that the regenerated nerve does not necessarily mature sufficiently. The recovery of sensitivity even to this degree however was sufficient for the replanted digits to be useful in all cases.