Surgical management of neural injuries associated with elbow fractures in children

Twenty-two patients with 25 neural injuries at the elbow joint were reviewed. Follow-up lasted 2 years after surgery. Mean age was 9.4 years. Findings at surgery revealed discontinuity of the affected nerve trunk in eight cases; 17 cases showed a constrictive lesion with the nerve trunk in continuity. Surgical technique involved repair by interfascicular grafting in six lesions, two by epineural suture, and 17 by neurolysis. The mean interval between injury and surgery was 10.1 months (range, 1-40). Motor and sensory function assessment was according to the Nerve Injuries Committee of the British Medical Research Council (preoperatively and at the final follow-up). Excellent results were found in nearly 80% of the continuous lesions treated by neurolysis. In discontinuous lesions, we found 66% with excellent results with grafting. The prognosis after neurolysis in continuous lesions is excellent. In discontinuous lesions after surgery, the rate of recovery is high. There is a poor prognosis for surgery performed > or = 1 year after the injury.