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Vein Wrapping of Peripheral Nerves: Surgical Technique

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Compressive Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity

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Abstract

Treatment of scarred peripheral nerves remains a challenging problem and many solutions have been tried with variable success. It is generally accepted that after revision neurolysis of the scarred nerve, soft tissue coverage of the segment of the scarred nerve is essential to prevent cicatrix reformation. The autologous vein wrapping technique can be used as an adhesion barrier for management of scarred peripheral nerves that occur after trauma and most commonly after failed surgical decompression for entrapment neuropathies. Although the mechanism still remains unclear, experimental and clinical studies have shown that the autologous vein wrapping can prevent epineurial scar formation (extrinsic and intrinsic), improve nerve gliding during motion of the adjacent joint and promote the functional recovery of the nerve. Several studies have reported good results after wrapping scarred nerves with autologous saphenous vein graft. Donor site morbidity was minimal. Autologous vein wrapping is an effective supplementary technique for the multiply operated patient with recurrent entrapment neuropathies secondary to excessive scarring of the nerve.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Specialists - UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Loukia K. Papatheodorou & Dean G. Sotereanos

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  1. Loukia K. Papatheodorou
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  2. Dean G. Sotereanos
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Specialists - UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Dean G. Sotereanos

  2. Orthopaedic Specialists - UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Loukia K. Papatheodorou

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Papatheodorou, L.K., Sotereanos, D.G. (2020). Vein Wrapping of Peripheral Nerves: Surgical Technique. In: Sotereanos, D., Papatheodorou, L. (eds) Compressive Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37289-7_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37289-7_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-37288-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-37289-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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