[The clinical picture and microsurgery of nerve damages to the extremities].

Analysis of injuries to the nerves in 850 patients showed that epi- and perineural sutures do not compete with one another, there are definite indications for the application of each one. A group interfascicular suture is applied when the groups of fasciculi are well formed and measure more than 300 mcm in diameter and the diastasis of the nerve is less than 3 cm. A large number of small fasciculi without a clearly defined group pattern, as well as their monofascicular structure are contraindications for applying a perineural suture but indications for placing an epineural suture. Interfascicular autoplasty by means of a cutaneous nerve is advisable when the mobilized ends of the nerves cannot be approximated. The use of the suggested system of indications for suturing nerves by various methods, optic magnification, and microsurgical techniques produced a good result: nerve conduction was restored in 199 (97%) of 205 cases.