Long-term functional results of primary reconstruction of severe forearm injuries.
Severe forearm injuries caused by machinery such as a power saw represented about 0.2% of all upper limb injuries operated on in the plastic surgery section of our institute between 1993 and 1997. These are complex and contaminated injuries with severe damage to skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, vessels and bones. Primary repair or reconstruction of all the divided vital structures was carried out in our series of four patients, including one 4-cm cable nerve graft for a median nerve defect. After an average 22-month follow up, the functional results showed grade M4 motor recovery and better than grade S3+ sensory recovery of the hand in all four patients. We suggest that a definitive primary procedure is best when possible. This will achieve a better functional outcome from early neural regeneration, and will reduce the frequency of secondary procedures, cause less scarring, and shorten the duration of hospital stays and rehabilitation periods.
Shieh
Shyh-Jou
SJ
Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 70428, Taiwan. sjshieh@mail.ncku.edu
Lee
Jing-Wei
JW
Chiu
Haw-Yen
HY
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome