[After care and rehabilitation following surgery of peripheral nerves]

In cases with direct nerve repair we consider a plaster cast immobilization of three weeks as adequate; for those with nerve grafts, two weeks are sufficient. In the later course, the patient should regularly be examined also for Tinel's sign, to make sure that this progresses distally corresponding to normal nerve regeneration. If after four to five months the Tinel's sign has not progressed distally, the regenerating nerve fibres are most likely to be blocked by scar tissue formation, and revisional surgery may be indicated. As in all surgery of the hand, the role of a postoperative hand therapy program is of critical importance. In many cases specific sensory reeducation may definitely contribute to improve the final functional result after restoration of peripheral nerves.