Long-Term Outcomes following Pediatric Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair

Abstract

Introduction Peripheral nerve injuries in children are uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose. There is a paucity of data on long-term sensorimotor and functional outcomes following surgical repair. We present a 12-year retrospective analysis of pediatric peripheral nerve repair with long-term functional outcomes.Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with peripheral nerve injury requiring surgical repair. Clinical records were analyzed for procedure type, time to surgery, mechanism of injury, postoperative recovery, and complications.Results A total of 108 patients were identified and 87 patients were included. Out of 87 patients, 83 (95.4%) had partial or complete sensorimotor recovery at final follow-up and 4 did not improve. Minor complications occurred in 10.3% of patients, all resolved with conservative management. Mechanisms of injury were predominantly lacerations with sharp objects or crush injuries. Age at time of injury was inversely correlated with sensorimotor recovery, and time to surgical repair was not.Conclusion Surgical repair with long-term hand therapy results in excellent functional outcomes following pediatric peripheral nerve injury. A low threshold for exploration and repair should be used in instances of diagnostic uncertainty. Timing of surgical repair is dependent on a patient’s clinical presentation; however, repair within 48 hours is sufficient for optimal sensorimotor recovery.