Avoidable complications of resection of major nerve trunk neurofibromas and schwannomas

Neurofibromas and schwannomas of major nerve trunks may present with a variety of symptoms and other clinical concerns. These include: (1) the question of malignancy, (2) pain and paresthesias, (3) cosmesis, and (4) symptoms and impending problems related to compression of adjacent structures. For these reasons, patients with neurofibromas and schwannomas may have valid reasons for surgery. Precise delineation of the anatomical relationships of the lesions and their location within peripheral nerve trunks is essential for decision making regarding when and how they should be excised; judgement regarding risks vs. benefits must be made carefully. Microsurgical dissection can be utilized to remove some nerve trunk lesions with preservation of most or all motor and sensory functions. An important goal in resecting benign lesions is to avoid sacrificing major motor and sensory functions. Three cases are presented to illustrate these concepts: 2 cases with significant motor loss following partial resection of large neurofibromas involving peripheral nerve trunks and 1 case with a large femoral nerve neurofibroma excised from the nerve trunk with microsurgical dissection, leading to relief of symptoms and complete preservation of motor function.