[Our experience about ten end-to-side sensitive nerve sutures at the hand]

Ten traumatic nerve defects at the palm or digit level were treated by end-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy. The technique included removal of an epineurial window on the donor nerve and coaptation of the sharply cut distal end of the injured nerve by epineurial stitches under microscope magnification. At final follow-up, the static two-point discrimination test scored at an average of 9.1 (range, 6-12) mm on the repaired nerve, compared to an average of 4.6 (range, 4-6) mm on the contralateral uninjured control side. The moving two-point discrimination test scored at an average of 7 (range, 4-10) mm on the repaired nerve compared to an average of 2.6 (range, 2-4) mm on the control side. This short series showed ETS neurorrhaphies are effective and give comparable results with those of nerve grafts or vein conduits, but worse than direct repairs.