Twenty-three patients (14 men, 9 women) with 24 painful neuromas underwent resection of neuroma and transposition of the nerve stump into an adjacent vein. The neuromas resulted from amputations (N = 7), tumor excision (N = 5), laceration injuries (N = 4), different types of wrist surgery (N = 3), vein-stripping procedures (N = 2), open fracture of the radius (N = 1), and toe harvest for thumb reconstruction (N = 1). The duration of painful symptoms averaged 66.7 weeks at the time of operation. Average follow-up was 26.5 months. In 22 patients the symptoms improved permanently. Twelve patients experienced complete and permanent relief of pain; some mild degree of pain returned in 8 patients. Two patients experienced moderate pain, and pain recurred unchanged 2 months postoperatively in 1 patient. The results presented are consistent with results of animal experiments demonstrating that typical neuroma does not develop in nerve stumps transposed into veins. Further clinical use of this approach is encouraged.
The authors could show that the number of septocutaneous perforators for the tensor fasciae latae flap is more constant and that their diameter is greater than that of musculocutaneous perforators. The location of these perforators on a line extending from the ilium to the greater trochanter facilitates planning and dissection of a flap.
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