The
sural nerve
Which nerve is most commonly used for the nerve grafting?
Although
the sural nerve
is the most commonly used autograft, there are many other suitable nerves that can be used as interposition grafts including: the medial and lateral cutaneous nerves of the forearm, dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve, superficial and deep peroneal nerves, intercostal nerves, and the …
Why is sural nerve used for grafts?
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.
Where are nerve grafts taken from?
Nerve grafts are generally portions of a sensory nerve that are harvested from
another part of the body
to be used as graft material. Once the graft is in place, the regenerating nerve fibers grow from the proximal nerve stump, through the graft, through the distal nerve segment into the target muscles.
How do they graft nerves?
What is Nerve Graft Repair? This procedure relies on
cutting out the scar tissue, called a neuroma
, that fills the gap between the two free ends. After measuring the length of the gap, Nerve Graft is harvested to bridge the defect. Donor sites include the back of the calf, front of the forearm, or back of the wrist.
When is nerve graft used?
A nerve graft is used
when the gap between the stumps of a transected nerve cannot be brought together without exerting excessive tension
. The gold standard in nerve grafting is the use of autogenous donor grafts, which are harvested (with prior consent) from other parts of the patient’s body.
How fast do nerves regrow?
On average, human peripheral nerves regenerate at a rate of
approximately 1 inch per month
. This rate is close to the slow axonal transport rate and is largely dictated by the need to move neurofilaments and microtubules, building blocks of axons, through the long axons (6, 7).
How successful are nerve grafts?
Therefore, for primary nerve repair, approximately 50% of the original axons will successfully regenerate through the repair site. For a nerve graft with two coaptation sites,
25% of axons will successfully regenerate through the graft
.
How do you stop sural nerves?
If the smaller superficial nerves (sural, saphenous and superficial peroneal) are not seen, these nerves can be blocked simply by
injecting local anesthetic into the subcutaneous tissue as a “skin wheal”
; for the sural nerve, inject from the Achilles tendon to the lateral malleolus; for the superficial peroneal and the …
How long does it take sural nerve to heal?
Sural nerve sensation began to recover
at 3 months after surgery
, but there were no cases of complete recovery of sural nerve sensation. However, superficial peroneal nerve function had returned to normal in a few cases, and saphenous nerve sensation had recovered to normal or close to normal levels in most cases.
How long is nerve graft surgery?
These complex operations can take
up to 12 hours
. Surgeons reconstruct nerves either by bridging a nerve defect with a nerve graft or by performing a nerve transfer from a nearby healthy nerve to share its function.
How are nerves reconnected?
Sometimes a section of a nerve is cut completely or damaged beyond repair.
Your surgeon can remove the damaged section
and reconnect healthy nerve ends (nerve repair) or implant a piece of nerve from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can help your nerves to regrow.
How does nerve transplant work?
Nerve transfers involve
taking the proximal portion of an expendable healthy nerve and transferring it to the distal part of the denervated nerve to the target muscle
. This procedure has revolutionized peripheral nerve surgeries with very good functional outcomes.
Is a nerve graft painful?
What happens during nerve repair surgery? You’re normally under general anesthesia for nerve repair surgery, so
you’ll feel no pain during the procedure
. Your surgeon examines the injured nerve using a powerful microscope and debrides torn tissue or scar tissue from the ends.
Does nerve regenerate hurt?
Patients with nerve damage resulting from illness or injury can
experience intense symptoms as the nerves regenerate
. Although the pain may be severe at times, it’s a temporary condition that indicates the body is on the mend.
How much does nerve repair surgery cost?
Surgery can cost
$20,000-$90,000 or more
, depending on the facility and the type of surgery.
