Surgical management and outcomes in patients with median nerve lesions

Abstract

OBJECT: One hundred sixty-seven of 250 patients with median nerve (MN) lesions, excluding carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve sheath tumors, at the levels of the arm, elbow, forearm, and wrist, underwent surgical treatment at Louisiana State University Health Sciences over a 30-year period. The most common causes of MN injuries were laceration, fracture-associated stretch and contusion, gunshot wound, compression, and injection injuries. In this study, surgically treated patients were followed and evaluated retrospectively for favorable functional outcomes. METHODS: Lesions not in continuity required primary or secondary end-to-end suture or graft repairs. With the aid of direct intraoperative recording of nerve action potentials (NAPs), MN injuries in which the lesion was in continuity underwent external or internal neurolysis, or resection of the lesion, followed by end-to-end suture or graft repair. A minimum of 12 months follow-up review (mean 18 months) was available in 85% of the surgically treated patients. For lesions in continuity, a functional recovery of Grade 3 or better was seen in 72 (95%) of 76 patients who underwent neurolysis, 18 (86%) of 21 who received suture repair, and 21 (75%) of 28 who received graft repair. In lesions not in continuity, favorable results (Grade > or = 3) were seen in 10 (91%) of 11 patients who received primary suture repair, seven (78%) of nine who received secondary suture repair, and 15 (68%) of 22 who received graft repair. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention for MN injuries with complete or severe deficits achieved favorable outcomes.