Clinical treatment of iatrogenic peripheral nerve injury

Abstract

Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical outcome of patients with iatrogenic peripheral nerve injury so as to summarize the experiences and lessons. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 72 patients with iatrogenic peripheral nerve injury treated in our hospital from 2004 to 2010.Therapy methods included conservative treatment in 24 patients,surgical release in 21 and nerve anastomosis in 27. Results All the patients were followed up for average 10 months ( range,3-24months).The neurological recovery was excellent in 24 patients,good in 21,fair in 16 and poor in 11,with excellent rate of 64％,according to the trial standard of upper limb functional assessment established by Chinese Medical Society of Hand Surgery. Conclusions Risk awareness should be strengthened on the iatrogenic peripheral nerve injury,especially the minimally invasive treatment of fractures in recent years,which has increased the risk of nerve injury.For patients who may be presented with iatrogenic injury,we should develop a detailed preoperative surgical plan for early one stage treatment as possible. Key words: Peripheral nerves; Combined modality therapy; Iatrogenic injuries