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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The present work was designed to compare primary and delayed peripheral nerve repair after various types of injury. Background Peripheral nerve injures are common and involve the upper and lower extremities. These injuries may cause significant deficits and impaired functional recovery. Median and ulnar nerve injuries are examples of such lesions, occurring as isolated or combined injury of both nerves. In contrast to the central nervous system, peripheral nerves have the ability of regenerating. This ability has been utilized for a long time in the treatment of injuries of peripheral nerves. Patients and methods We studied 30 patients aged 6-60 years (average 28 ± 14 years) presenting to the Emergency Department and Neurosurgery Outpatient Clinic of Shebien El Kom Teaching Hospital with peripheral nerve injury from February 2012 and May 2013. The patients were followed up until July 2013. Sixteen (53.3%) patients underwent primary repair, and 14 (46.7%) were treated with a delayed method. The highest number of nerve injuries was at the wrist level (43.3%); the elbow was injured in 23.3% of patients and the least frequent nerve injuries were in the thigh (6.7%). Results Success was seen in 14 of 16 patients who underwent primary repair and in seven of 14 patients who underwent delayed repair. Excellent results were common in younger patients. Conclusion Recovery following primary repair was faster than in other methods. For reaching excellent results in repairing peripheral nerves, it is important to follow all rules needed for repairing cut peripheral nerves, as well as accurate evaluation and correct repair of injured surrounding soft tissue such as tendons and their synovium and injured vessels.

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