Peripheral nerve surgery

Peripheral nerve surgery [∞]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23528637/Peripheral nerve surgery is a specialized field focused on repairing, decompressing, or reconstructing damaged nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It is often used for conditions such as nerve compression (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), traumatic nerve injuries, tumors affecting nerves, or chronic pain syndromes.

Common Types of Peripheral Nerve Surgery

1. Nerve Decompression – Used for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve.
2. Nerve Repair (Neurorrhaphy) – Directly reconnecting severed nerves if the gap is small.
3. Nerve Grafting – Using a donor nerve to bridge a gap when a nerve is too damaged to reconnect directly.
4. Nerve Transfers – Moving a less important nerve to restore function to a more critical nerve.
5. Neuroma Removal – Removing painful nerve tumors or thickened nerve endings.
6. Peripheral Nerve Stimulation – Implanting a device to manage chronic nerve pain.

Indications for Peripheral Nerve Surgery

• Traumatic nerve injury (e.g., accidents, cuts, gunshot wounds)
• Nerve compression syndromes (e.g., carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel)
• Peripheral neuropathy complications (diabetes-related, autoimmune-related)
• Tumors on or near nerves (e.g., schwannomas, neurofibromas)
• Chronic neuropathic pain

Recovery & Considerations

• Nerve regeneration is slow: About 1 mm/day or ~1 inch per month.
• Physical therapy is often needed to regain strength and function.
• Outcomes depend on the severity of nerve damage and time since injury.