title: Treatment of painful peripheral neuroma by vein implantation.
abstract: Painful neuromas form on cutaneous nerves as a result of trauma, pressure, stretch or entrapment. Since the earliest descriptions of neuromas, proposed treatments have been met with poor results and controversy. The myriad of treatments described include: simple division of an affected nerve, implantation into muscle or bone, silicon sleeves and caps, repeated injection of steroids, end-to-side neurorrhaphy, medication and vein caps to name a few. Due to encouraging recent reports of treatment of painful neuromas by vein implantation, the authors describe a simple technique to achieve this surgical goal. As veins are readily accessible due to their proximity in the neurovascular bundle, they serve as a ready source for grafting. The advantages include minimisation of trauma to bone and muscle as compared with previous treatment techniques and the relative ease of the method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurological Sciences, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. ralphmobbs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mobbs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vonau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009463:Neuroma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*