A new pattern of needle for microsurgical repair of nerves

This paper describes the design for a microsurgical stainless steel atraumatic needle for primary suture of small peripheral nerves in which the epineurium is friable. The needle (manufactured by Dixey Instruments, U.K.) is curved with a spearshaped point and a small cutting edge on the concave surface. The rest of the body of the needle is round. We have found with histological evidence that there is an improvement in accuracy of suture placement on previously used needles in experimental and clinical microsurgery of peripheral nerves.