REPAIR OF MIXED PERIPHERAL-NERVES USING MUSCLE AUTOGRAFTS - A PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATION

Twelve patients were reviewed following the reconstruction of mixed mo tor/sensory nerves using freeze-thawed skeletal muscle autografts. A t otal of 13 nerves were reconstructed-6 median and 7 ulnar. All the rep airs were secondary procedures, with a mean time from injury to grafti ng of 17 months. Sensory and motor evaluation was carried out and the patients asked to complete a pain questionnaire. Five patients achieve d an S3+ level of sensory recovery. Two underwent revision of their mu scle grafts to nerve grafts. Motor recovery was universally poor.