Repair of median and ulnar nerves. Primary suture is best

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Birch R. Raji AR. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery - British Volume. [JC:hk7] 73(1):154-7, 1991 Jan. We reviewed, at two to seven years, the results of repair of 108 median and ulnar nerves after clean transection injury between the elbow and wrist in 95 patients ranging in age from 15 to 55 years. Of these, 48 nerves had primary suture, 25 had delayed suture, and 35 were grafted, all repairs being performed by the senior author using standard techniques. Assessment was based on the methods and grading described by Seddon (1975). Thirteen of 60 secondary repairs or grafts failed, but no primary repair failed completely. There were few exnsverse carpal ligament 2 to 6 mm proximal to the distal edge. Of the six cadavers with anomalous branching, four (67%) had bilateral anomalies and two (33%) had unilateral branching.