Arterialized venous free sural nerve grafting

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Nerve defects pose significant challenges in reconstructive surgery.
• Traditional nerve grafting methods have limitations in bridging long nerve gaps.
• Arterialization of grafts aims to improve vascularization and graft survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a new free sural nerve graft technique with arterialization for long nerve defects.
• To assess the impact of the time interval between nerve injury and surgical repair on functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A free sural nerve graft was utilized, with its accompanying small saphenous vein arterialized.
• The technique was applied to repair long nerve segments in 14 patients.
• Outcomes were compared based on the timing of surgical intervention post-injury.

Main Results:

• The technique demonstrated favorable results in most patients, with 12 out of 14 grafts successful.
• Two grafts failed due to vascular thrombosis.
• Motor function recovery was observed in patients operated on within 6 months, but not in those operated on after 2 years.

Conclusions:

• Arterialized free sural nerve grafting is a viable option for long nerve defect repair.
• Timely surgical intervention is crucial for optimal functional recovery, particularly for motor nerve injuries.
• Further research may focus on mitigating risks of vascular thrombosis in these grafts.