[Nerve graft of collateral branches of fingers. Report of a series of 16 reviewed cases]

Abstract

Sixteen digital nerve grafts (14 patients) were reviewed with an average follow-up of 43 months. Average age was 27 years (7-53 yrs). Eleven grafts were performed on the thumb or the index finger. The nerve lesion was always proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint, and associated with a tendinous lesion in one case out of two. One graft was done in emergency, 6 for failure of sutures and 7 for neglected wounds. Delay before grafting was on average of 4 months (0-16 months). The n. cutaneus antebrachii medialis was used in 11 patients. An hypoesthetic area of an average of 78 cm2 was noted, at the inferomedial part of the forearm, but only one patient complained with discomfort. At follow-up 3 patients, all under 20, had discriminative sensibility, 4 had protective sensibility and 5 only some sensibility to touch. Half of our patients complained with little discomfort, but 9 of 14 suffered with cold among which two suffered daily.