title: Use of superficial peroneal nerve graft for treating peripheral nerve injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical results from treating chronic peripheral nerve injuries using the superficial peroneal nerve as a graft donor source.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a study on eleven patients with peripheral nerve injuries in the upper limbs that were treated with grafts from the sensitive branch of the superficial peroneal nerve. The mean time interval between the dates of the injury and surgery was 93 days. The ulnar nerve was injured in eight cases and the median nerve in six. There were three cases of injury to both nerves. In the surgery, a longitudinal incision was made on the anterolateral face of the ankle, thus viewing the superficial peroneal nerve, which was located anteriorly to the extensor digitorum longus muscle. Proximally, the deep fascia between the extensor digitorum longus and the peroneal longus muscles was dissected. Next, the motor branch of the short peroneal muscle (one of the branches of the superficial peroneal nerve) was identified. The proximal limit of the sensitive branch was found at this point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average space between the nerve stumps was 3.8 cm. The average length of the grafts was 16.44 cm. The number of segments used was two to four cables. In evaluating the recovery of sensitivity, 27.2% evolved to S2+, 54.5% to S3 and 18.1% to S3+. Regarding motor recovery, 72.7% presented grade 4 and 27.2% grade 3. There was no motor deficit in the donor area. A sensitive deficit in the lateral dorsal region of the ankle and the dorsal region of the foot was observed. None of the patients presented complaints in relation to walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the superficial peroneal nerve as a graft source for treating peripheral nerve injuries is safe and provides good clinical results similar to those from other nerve graft sources.
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Hospital Nossa Senhora do Pari, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribak
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Hospital Nossa Senhora do Pari, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Ferreira
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: da Silva Filho
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tietzmann
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Hospital Nossa Senhora do Pari, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helton Hiroshi
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Mattos
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Augusto Machado
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Gama
keywords: Nerve/transplantation; Peripheral nerve; Peroneal neuropathies