TUBULAR REPAIR OF THE MEDIAN NERVE IN THE HUMAN FOREARM - PRELIMINARYFINDINGS

Transected median nerves in the forearm of two male patients, 12 and 2 1 years of age, were treated with a chamber technique leaving a 3 to 5 mm gap between the nerve ends. The nerve ends were enclosed in a sili cone tube of such a dimension that would not cause compression of the nerve. Post-operative examination including sensory evaluation and ass essment of muscle contraction force was carried out after 3 years. In both cases there was excellent motor recovery of the thenar muscles. O utgrowth of sensory fibres was remarkably fast, resulting ultimately i n functional sensibility allowing almost normal hand function. 2PD was less than or equal to 6 mm (12-year-old patient) and 8 to 10 mm (21-y ear-old patient) respectively. In one case the silicone tube was re-ex plored because of minor local discomfort 2 years after the repair. The former gap was bridged by a smooth continuous nerve-like structure,of the same diameter as the adjacent nerve trunk and with no signs of ne uroma formation or compression of the nerve.