A comparison of vascularized and conventional sural nerve grafts

Long-term results of a randomized series of 27 vascularized and 22 conventional sural nerve grafts in patients with comparable upper extremity injuries are reported. Recovery speed and outcome depended on (1) whether or not there was an overlying skin defect, (2) how the defect was closed, and (3) which nerve was injured and at what level. Generally, a vascularized nerve graft is indicated when the nerve gap is more than 6 cm and is associated with a massive skin defect or the graft is performed after reimplantation. Otherwise, results achieved with a conventional graft are equally good.