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 AFFECT 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 IS A VALUABLE SOURCE FOR A NERVE GRAFT OF GOOD DIAMETER AND LENGTH, BEING THE MOST COMMON DONOR SITE UTILIZED IN CURRENT MEDICAL PRACTICE. THIS ACTIVITY AIMS TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR SURAL NERVE HARVESTING.