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The Assessment and Management of Peripheral Nerve Trauma

  • Neuromuscular Disorders (C Fournier, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to discuss the therapeutic options available in the treatment of traumatic injuries involving peripheral nerves.

Recent findings

For nerve gap repair, synthetic nerve tubes are limited to gaps below 3 cm in length and to small-diameter nerve repairs, whereas the dependency on proliferating host Schwann cell limits the size of acellularized autografts. Thus, in most situations, nerve autografts remain superior for nerve gap correction.

Summary

When conservative treatment is either not indicated or ineffective, surgical intervention may be employed. The ideal timing of surgical intervention is often unclear and determined by a number of factors, including the circumstances surrounding the injury, the timing of the symptoms, the type and severity of the injury, the completeness of the lesion, the required regenerative distance, the degree of fascicular disruption, and the degree of concomitant tissue trauma and contamination, as well as the morbidity and mortality of the procedure, and the age and comorbidities of the patient. The most common nonsurgical error is unnecessary surgical delay. To avoid losing the opportunity to achieve successful motor recovery, it is important to involve a peripheral nerve surgeon early.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Mark A. Ferrante MD

  2. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Mark A. Ferrante MD

  3. Professor of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Neurophysiology Section Chief, VAMC, 6614 Heronswood Cove, Memphis, TN, 38119, USA

    Mark A. Ferrante MD

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  1. Mark A. Ferrante MD
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Correspondence to Mark A. Ferrante MD.

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Mark A. Ferrante declares that he has no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuromuscular Disorders

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Ferrante, M.A. The Assessment and Management of Peripheral Nerve Trauma. Curr Treat Options Neurol 20, 25 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-018-0507-4

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