Endoscopic sural nerve harvest in the pediatric patient

A technique of endoscopic sural nerve harvest was devised to minimize the donor-site scarring in pediatric patients requiring peripheral nerve-grafting procedures. The harvests were performed under tourniquet control using two 2-cm incisions for access at the lateral malleolus and the midcalf. Endoscopic visualization and blunt dissection of the nerve were achieved with a 4-mm Hopkins telescope with 30-degree angled lens (Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) stabilized in an Emory retractor and attached to a video camera. The medial sural nerve was divided in the popliteal fossa proximally under endoscopic visualization. The lateral sural nerve was identified and harvested when present. Between June of 1994 and March of 1995, 18 patients underwent 27 sural nerve harvests using the endoscopic technique. Mean patient age was 3.3 years (range 4 to 197 months). Indications for surgery included obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (12), facial palsy (5), and ulnar nerve neuroma (1). Nerve-graft length harvested ranged from 13 to 41 cm. Mean tourniquet time per limb was 92 minutes. No nerve graft injury was noted on examination under the operating microscope. Postoperative pain, swelling, and ecchymosis were minimal. Donorsite scarring has been aesthetically satisfactory to date.