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. 2020 Feb 6;2(2):74-76.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2020.01.001. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Long-Term Outcomes of Donor Site Morbidity After Sural Nerve Graft Harvesting

Kaoru Tada  1 , Mika Nakada  1 , Masashi Matsuta  1 , Daisuke Yamauchi  1 , Kazuo Ikeda  1 , Hiroyuki Tsuchiya  1
Affiliations

Long-Term Outcomes of Donor Site Morbidity After Sural Nerve Graft Harvesting

Kaoru Tada et al. J Hand Surg Glob Online. .

Abstract

Purpose: Although nerve autografts have been considered the standard treatment for peripheral nerve defects, limited studies have reported long-term outcomes of nerve harvesting over 15 years after surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting.

Methods: Thirteen patients for whom more than 15 years had passed after harvesting of the sural nerve for peripheral nerve defects were included. Mean follow-up was 29.5 years. Sensory disturbances and difficulty in performing foot movements immediately after surgery and currently were evaluated on a 10-point scale. Influences on daily living and work and current satisfaction with the autologous sural nerve graft were evaluated.

Results: Sensory disturbances and difficulty in movement tended to improve; however, the differences between time points were not significant. Influences on activities of daily living and work were mild, and the satisfaction level for autologous sural nerve graft was high.

Conclusions: Although donor site morbidity after sural nerve graft harvesting persisted for a long time after surgery, foot symptoms and functional impairment were mild.

Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic V.

Keywords: Donor site; Nerve graft; Sural nerve.

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