SURAL NERVE GRAFT

Course overview

PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURIES FREQUENTLY OCCUR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF TRAUMA. THEY MAY ARISE FROM VARIOUS MECHANISMS, INCLUDING LACERATION, CONTUSION, STRETCHING, COMPRESSION, AND IATROGENIC INJURY. ALTHOUGH GENERALLY NOT LIFE-THREATENING, THEY CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT A PATIENT'S DAILY ACTIVITIES AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. RESTORATION OF NERVE CONTINUITY WILL AID IN FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY. AUTOLOGOUS NERVE GRAFTING IS THE GOLD STANDARD TREATMENT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A NERVE GAP. THE SURAL NERVE PROVIDES A VALUABLE SOURCE FOR A NERVE GRAFT OF GOOD DIAMETER AND LENGTH, BEING THE MOST COMMON DONOR SITE UTILIZED IN THE PRESENT MEDICAL PRACTICE. ITS EASE OF DISSECTION AND LOW MORBIDITY HAVE HELPED IN ITS POPULARIZATION. THIS ACTIVITY AIMS TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR SURAL NERVE HARVESTING.