Primary epineural repair of the median nerve in children

Abstract

We report 18 children (12 boys and six girls) with a mean age of 6.1 years who sustained lacerations of the median nerve. Associated injuries to other structures occurred in 15 children. Treatment was by primary epineural repair. All the children were assessed at least 1 year after injury. The mean return of motor power to the opponens pollicis was 4.5 with a range of 3 to 5 (MRC scale) and the mean static 2-point discrimination was 5 mm (range 2-10 mm). All children showed a full functional recovery as assessed by the Bruininks-Oseretsky test. Primary epineurial repair in children leads to very satisfactory motor and sensory results. A fully functional hand can be expected.