title: Tubular repair of the median nerve in the human forearm. Preliminary findings.
abstract: Transected median nerves in the forearm of two male patients, 12 and 21 years of age, were treated with a chamber technique leaving a 3 to 5 mm gap between the nerve ends. The nerve ends were enclosed in a silicone tube of such a dimension that would not cause compression of the nerve. Post-operative examination including sensory evaluation and assessment of muscle contraction force was carried out after 3 years. In both cases there was excellent motor recovery of the thenar muscles. Outgrowth of sensory fibres was remarkably fast, resulting ultimately in functional sensibility allowing almost normal hand function. 2PD was < or = 6 mm (12-year-old patient) and 8 to 10 mm (21-year-old patient) respectively. In one case the silicone tube was re-explored because of minor local discomfort 2 years after the repair. The former gap was bridged by a smooth continuous nerve-like structure of the same diameter as the adjacent nerve trunk and with no signs of neuroma formation or compression of the nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö Allmänna Sjukhus, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lundborg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dahlin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000294:innervation*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012828:Silicones; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones