title: Perioperative complications in patients undergoing peripheral nerve surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With increasing indications for and volume of patients undergoing peripheral nerve surgery, it becomes imperative that complication rates are monitored. This study looks at complication rates in all types of peripheral nerve surgery, develops a complication classification system, and defines the most common variables associated with failures and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  All peripheral nerve procedures performed by the senior author during a consecutive 6-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Complications occurring within the first 30 postoperative days were recorded and classified into minor, intermediate, or major.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5219 procedures were performed on 1819 patients in all areas of the body (head and neck, trunk, and upper and lower extremities). The total complication rate was 2.91%, with a minor complication rate of 2.47%, intermediate complication rate of 0.44%, and major complication rate of 0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that peripheral nerve surgery can be safely performed with a very low complication rate if patients are properly selected and the surgeon is appropriately trained. A classification system for complications after peripheral nerve surgery and the most common variables associated with failures and complications are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. ducici@gunet.georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ducic
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Attar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors