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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: August 15, 2019
Age does not affect the outcome after digital nerve repair in children - A retrospective long term follow up
Hans-Eric Rosberg1, Derya Burcu Hazer Rosberg2, Illugi Birkisson1
1Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden; Department of Translational Medicine - Hand Surgery, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
Insights
Children experience excellent long-term recovery from digital nerve repair, with age not impacting outcomes. This study confirms good functional results and sensation restoration in young patients following nerve injury and surgical repair.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Hand Surgery
- Neurology
Background:
- Digital nerve injuries in children have a generally favorable prognosis compared to adults.
- Age has been identified as a potential factor influencing outcomes after nerve repair in mixed pediatric and adult populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate long-term outcomes following digital nerve injury and repair in children aged 1-16 years.
- To evaluate the influence of age on functional recovery and sensory restoration after digital nerve repair in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective follow-up study compared two groups of children (1-10 years vs. 11-16 years) who underwent digital nerve repair (n=38).
- Clinical evaluations assessed sensation and grip strength, supplemented by questionnaires (DASH, CISS, VAS-function, VAS-cosmetic) at a median of 40 months post-surgery.
Main Results:
- All children regained normal sensation, with no correlation found between age and sensory recovery (monofilaments).
- While 52% reported cold intolerance (CISS), other functional outcomes (DASH, VAS) were generally normal and showed no significant differences between age groups.
Conclusions:
- Children demonstrate excellent long-term recovery after digital nerve repair.
- Age does not appear to influence the functional or sensory outcomes in pediatric patients following digital nerve repair.
Background:
Digital nerve injuries in children are not common, but they are considered to have an excellent prognosis, compared to adults, after nerve injury and repair. In studies including both children and adults age have been found to have an effect on outcome after nerve repair.
Methods:
We investigated in a retrospective follow up study the long-time result after digital nerve injury and repair in children, 1-16 years of age (n = 38), and evaluate if age influences outcome. A group with young children, 1-10 years of age (n = 18), was compared with a group with older children, 11-16 years of age (n = 20). A clinical evaluation to evaluate sensation and grip strength was performed and questionnaires were used [Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Cold Sensitivity Severity Scale (CISS), VAS-function and VAS-cosmetic] in median 40 months (range 12-131 months) after the injury and repair.
Results:
All patient regained normal sensation. No correlations between age and monofilaments were found. Twenty children (52%) reported some problems with cold intolerance (i.e. CISS), but no other abnormal disability was found (i.e. DASH, VAS); again with no differences between the two groups.
Conclusions:
Children have an excellent long-term recovery after a digital nerve repair and without any influence of age.
