Long-Term Outcomes of Donor Site Morbidity After Sural Nerve Graft Harvesting

Abstract

PurposeAlthough nerve autografts have been considered the standard treatment for peripheral nerve defects, limited studies have reported long-term outcomes of nerve harvesting over 15 years after surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting.MethodsThirteen patients for whom more than 15 years had passed after harvesting of the sural nerve for peripheral nerve defects were included. Mean follow-up was 29.5 years. Sensory disturbances and difficulty in performing foot movements immediately after surgery and currently were evaluated on a 10-point scale. Influences on daily living and work and current satisfaction with the autologous sural nerve graft were evaluated.ResultsSensory disturbances and difficulty in movement tended to improve; however, the differences between time points were not significant. Influences on activities of daily living and work were mild, and the satisfaction level for autologous sural nerve graft was high.ConclusionsAlthough donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting persisted for a long time after surgery, foot symptoms and functional impairment were mild.Type of study/level of evidenceTherapeutic V. Although nerve autografts have been considered the standard treatment for peripheral nerve defects, limited studies have reported long-term outcomes of nerve harvesting over 15 years after surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting. Thirteen patients for whom more than 15 years had passed after harvesting of the sural nerve for peripheral nerve defects were included. Mean follow-up was 29.5 years. Sensory disturbances and difficulty in performing foot movements immediately after surgery and currently were evaluated on a 10-point scale. Influences on daily living and work and current satisfaction with the autologous sural nerve graft were evaluated. Sensory disturbances and difficulty in movement tended to improve; however, the differences between time points were not significant. Influences on activities of daily living and work were mild, and the satisfaction level for autologous sural nerve graft was high. Although donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting persisted for a long time after surgery, foot symptoms and functional impairment were mild.