THE RESULTS OF SECONDARY MICROSURGICAL REPAIR OF RADIAL NERVE IN 33 PATIENTS

33 patients with injuries to the radial nerve were reviewed, on averag e, 12.1 (5-20) years after secondary repair. 24 were male and nine fem ale, with a mean age of 29.8 (7-54) years. Most of the nerve lesions w ere blunt (17) or sharp (14) injuries. Division was total in 24 cases and they were mostly injured at the upper arm level (21 cases). The av erage interval between injury and repair was 6.0 (1-19) months. The pr ocedures used were fascicular grafting in 21 and direct suture in 12 c ases. Motor and sensory recovery were evaluated quantitatively. Useful results were obtained in 65.0% and useless in 25.0%. Fascicular graft ing restored a useful level of motor function in only 8/21 cases (38.1 %). Pre-operative delay had a significant influence. Associated lesion s proved to be the critical factor for restoration of radial nerve fun ction.