Microsurgical nervous reconstruction using autografts: a two-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND

To analyze factors influencing surgical results after microsurgical reconstruction of injured nerves.

METHODS

We report a series of 32 cases of microsurgical nerve reconstruction after traumatizing lesions using nervous autografts. The series comprises 8 reconstructions of radial nerve, 8 of median nerve, 6 of ulnar, and 10 of sciatic nerve. Motor and sensitive deficits have been evaluated preoperatively using a standard grading.

RESULTS

A useful sensory recovery has been obtained in radial nerve, as well as in median and ulnar nerve reconstruction. Good results regarding the motor recovery have been obtained in superior limb nerve reconstruction. Sciatic nerve reconstruction showed the worse results.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a big discrepance between superior limb vs inferior limb results. A more than 10 cm gap has a negative influence on the progression of regenerating axons, especially in median and ulnar nerves.