[Our experience with surgical management of injuries to peripheral nerves of the upper extremities].

OBJECTIVES

The authors present their results of 44 microsurgical procedures of 47 nerves in 44 patients subjects over a period of 19 years, from 1985 to 2003.

STUDY GROUP SUBJECTS AND METHODS

44 patients with injuries to peripheral nerves of the upper extremities underwent reconstructions of 47 nerves using autotransplants. The procedures effectivity results were analysed using the following indicators: the injury to the procedure time, the patient's age, the autotransplant length, the injury type, the injury site, the injured nerve type.

RESULTS

The best results were reached: in young patients up to the age of 20, in cases of early operations up to 3 months, in cases when grafts up to 5 cm were used. Clean, for instance incision injury, has much better prospects for successful nerve graft autotransplantation than others, more complicated injuries (e.g. lacerated injury or contusion).