title: The Outcomes of Late Term Surgical Treatment of Penetrating Peripheral Nerve Injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the follow-up results of patients who received late-term surgical treatment for peripheral nerve lesions caused by penetrating injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 25 patients who underwent surgery for peripheral nerve injuries in our clinic between 2007 and 2013. The patients were evaluated with respect to age, gender, etiology of the trauma, the affected nerve, clinical examinations, electrophysiological findings, surgical techniques and functional outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 30 nerves of 25 patients (19 male, 6 female; mean age 30.1 years). The mean time between the initial injury and admission to our clinic was 11.5 months (range, 3 to 30 months). Cuts caused by glass were the most common cause of injury (68.5%). The most commonly injured nerves in our patients were the median nerve (43.4%) and ulnar nerve (26.6%). External neurolysis and decompression were performed in eleven patients, epineurotomy and internal neurolysis were performed in eight patients, epineural repair was performed in fourteen patients, fascicular repair was performed in three patients, and interfascicular anastomosis using sural nerve grafting was performed in five patients. Postoperative motor strength and electrophysiological analyses showed significant improvements. Better outcomes were obtained in cases with median nerve injuries rather than other nerve injuries. Additionally, patients undergoing external neurolysis and decompression exhibited better outcomes than those undergoing other surgical approaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although surgical treatment is recommended as early as possible for peripheral nerve injuries, late-term surgical treatments may provide positive outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yurdal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gezercan
authors.forename: Güner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menekşe
authors.forename: Ali İhsan
authors.initials: Aİ
authors.lastname: Ökten
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Kerem Mazhar
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Özsoy
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ateş
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çikili
authors.forename: İsmail
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olmaz
authors.forename: Aslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult