Centrocentral anastomosis of the proximal nerve stump in the treatment of painful amputation neuromas of major nerves

Abstract

The term "centrocentral anastomosis" is used to describe the end-to-end connection across interposed nerve grafts between paired fascicular groups of the proximal stump of a severed nerve. In 22 patients harboring a painful terminal neuroma following amputation of a lower limb (20 neuromas on the sciatic nerve and two on the peroneal nerve), a centrocentral anastomosis was performed on the end of the sectioned nerve to treat pain that had not improved with conventional conservative treatment. Follow-up review at 1 year revealed that the typical neuroma pain had disappeared in all cases, although sporadic diffuse pain persisted in four. Where previous phantom sensation was present, no change was observed. The results presented here are consistent with laboratory findings demonstrating the absence of neuroma formation after centrocentral anastomosis. Therefore, this technique is recommended for the treatment of painful amputation neuroma.