Between 1986 and 1993, 643 patients with peripheral nerve trauma were treated in our clinic. Primary neurorraphy was performed in 431 of these patients and nerve grafting in 212 patients. We present the functional results after nerve grafting in 93 patients with large nerve defects who were followed for more than 2 years. Evaluation of function was based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) classification for motor and sensory recovery. Factors affecting functional outcome, such as age of the patient, denervation time, length of the defect, and level of the injury were noted. Good results according to the MRC classification were obtained in the majority of cases, although function remained less than that of the uninjured side.
During a period of 4 years, we attempted replantation of an amputated thumb in 21 patients. We present the survival rate as well as the functional recovery in correlation with type of injury. In 21 thumbs, 16 survived surgery (76.2%); 2 out of 5 losses belonged to the guillotine category and 3 belonged to the crush-avulsion category. Out of the 11 thumbs that belonged to the crush-avulsion type, 8 survived, which is a 72.7% success rate. Eight out of 10 thumbs of the guillotine type survived, an 80% success rate. The cosmetic and functional result was satisfactory.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.