Summary:
Aim: This study presents the results of the brachial plexus and the peripheral extremities nerves neurolyses
conducted in our clinic for 18 years from 1985 to 2003.
Subjects and methodology: 92 patients were treated surgically using neurolyses. Out of this number, 10 of
them concerned brachial plexi, 49 nerves of the upper extremities and 33 nerves of the lower extremities. Out of
the total patient number, 67 were males and 25 females, aged 30 years on average. The average time gap between
the injury and the surgical procedure was 6.9 months. An extremely long time gap (over 12months) was recorded
in 5 cases. The operations were conducted in patients who suffered from a complete or persisting neurological
deficits. In 92 patients, external neurolysis was conducted, out of them in 7 cases also internal neurolysis was
conducted. Cases which required resection of the fascicles and reconstruction using autotransplants, as well as
cases which had already undergone reconstruction procedures, have not been included in this study. The results
analysis has been conducted with respect to the time gap between the surgical procedure and the injury, to the
patient’s age, to the type of the injured nerve and to the peroperatively detected degree of fibrotic changes.
Results: The best results were observed in patients under 20 years of age, in cases of early treatment, in distal
injuries and in neurolyses of the tibial and radial nerves.
Conclusion: When indicated, the early surgical treatment is the main factor determining the results of the
surgical procedures.
Key words:
traumatic lesions of the peripheral nerves – neurolyses
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