[Rehabilitation of war injuries associated with peripheral nerve lesions].

The objective of this study was to examine frequency, characteristics and results of hospital medical rehabilitation of war injured patients with peripheral nerve lesions. War injured patients with peripheral nerve lesions make 10.83% of all war injured hospitalized patients. The major etiologic factor in these injuries were firearms. Most injured aged 26 to 36 years of age, whereas men were injured more often than women. The injuries were primarily localized in the regions of axilla, upper leg and upper arm. In regard to upper extremities injuries most often occurred on the right side or bilaterally. Injuries of n. ischiadicus, combination of n. ulnaris and n. medianus occurred more frequently than injuries of other peripheral nerves. Electromyoneurographic and neurosurgical findings point to frequent partial-severe and complete nerve lesions. After hospital treatment lasting 4.6 months on the average, unsatisfactory functional reparation was found in most injured patients. This demands further control, continuous medical as well as social and professional rehabilitation.