The lower extremity nerve injuries - own experience in surgical treatment

Abstract

The frequency of the lower extremity nerve injuries is assessed to about 20% of the overall lesions to the peripheral nerve system. Peroneal neuropathy is the most common lower extremity nerve palsy. In this study, results of the surgical treatment of the lower extremity nerve injuries have been presented. The clinical material consisted of 270 patients (192 males, 78 females aged from 3 months to 74 years) with injuries of the common peroneal nerve - 125, sciatic nerve - 93, common peroneal and tibial nerve - 21, tibial nerve - 17, femoral nerve - 10, others - 4. The following surgical procedures were performed: external neurolysis - 164, internal neurolysis - 27, reconstruction with sural nerve grafting - 63, direct neurorrhaphy - 12, neurotisation - 3, supplementary tenomioplasty - 23. Evaluation of the results with the use of BMRC scale (M0-M5) and Highet scale (S0-S4) included the group of 120 patients. After the surgical treatment a significant improvement was found in 63.3%. The efficacy of the treatment is strictly dependent on an early surgical intervention, mechanism and degree of the nerve injury as well as appropriate method of surgical therapy.