Abstract | OBJECTIVE: With the use of data from 3 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) publications, various parameters for buttock/thigh-level sciatic nerve and tibial and common peroneal divisions/nerve injuries were summarized, and outcomes were compared. METHODS: Data from 806 buttock/thigh-level sciatic nerve and tibial and common peroneal division/nerve injury repairs were summarized. Lesion types, repair techniques, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Acute lacerations undergoing suture repair were best for the thigh-then-buttock-level tibial (93%/73%) and then same-level common peroneal divisions (69%/30%); at the knee level, tibial outcomes (100%) were better than those for the common peroneal nerve (CPN) (84%). Secondary graft repairs for lacerations had good outcomes for the thigh-then-buttock-level tibial (80%/62%), followed by common peroneal divisions at the same levels (45%/24%). The knee/leg-level tibial nerve (94%) did better than the CPN (40%) here. In-continuity lesions with positive intraoperative nerve action potentials underwent neurolysis with better results for the thigh-then-buttock-level tibial division (95%/86%) than for same-level CPN (78%/69%). The knee/leg-level tibial nerve did better than the CPN (95%/93%). CONCLUSION: Better recovery of buttock- and thigh-level tibial division/nerve occurs because: 1) the CPN is lateral and thus vulnerable to a more severe injury; 2) the tibial nerve is more elastic at impact owing to its singular-fixation site (the CPN has a dual fixation); 3) the tibial nerve has a better blood supply and regeneration; 4) the tibial nerve has a higher force-absorbing fascicle/connective tissue count than the CPN; and 5) the tibial nerve-innervated gastrocnemius soleus requires less reinnervation for functional contraction than deep peroneal branches, which innervate long, thin extensor muscles at multiple sites and require coordinated nerve input for effective contraction.
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Authors | Judith A Murovic |
Journal | Neurosurgery
(Neurosurgery)
Vol. 65
Issue 4 Suppl
Pg. A18-23
(Oct 2009)
ISSN: 1524-4040 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19927065
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Topics |
- Louisiana
(epidemiology)
- Nerve Regeneration
(physiology)
- Neurosurgical Procedures
(methods, mortality, statistics & numerical data)
- Outcome Assessment, Health Care
(methods)
- Peroneal Nerve
(injuries, pathology, surgery)
- Recovery of Function
(physiology)
- Sciatic Nerve
(injuries, pathology, surgery)
- Suture Techniques
(mortality, statistics & numerical data)
- Tibial Nerve
(injuries, pathology, surgery)
- Tissue Transplantation
(methods, mortality, statistics & numerical data)
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