The Effect of Neurorraphy of Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injury in Upper Extremity

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2010;12(1):8-13.
Published online June 1, 2010.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and the related factors after repairing of peripheral nerve (median and ulnar nerve) injuries using electrodiagnostic study. Method: The study included 32 patients (median nerve injury: 20 patients, ulnar nerve injury: 12 patients). We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients for injury type, age, sex and duration after injury. All patients were evaluated with electrodiagnostic study at early after repairing surgery(12-29 days) and follow up(13.0-52.5 months). We got the value of amplitude, conduction velocity in motor and sensory conduction test. Results: On follow up studies in median nerve group, amplitudes were significantly increased on motor and sensory nerve conduction study. On follow up studies in ulnar nerve group, amplitudes and conduction velocities were not significantly increased. In total rupture group, there became more presence of evoked potentials in motor nerve conduction study compared with sensory nerve conduction study. Conclusion: After neurorraphy in patients with severe nerve injury of upper extremities, there were substantial recoveries of motor and sensory function in electrophysiologic and functional aspects, especially in median nerve. The recovery of nerve injury was not related to age, sex and duration after injury.

Key Words: Neurorrhaphy, Nerve Conduction, Prognosis