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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Reconstr Microsurg Open 2018; 03(01): e41-e45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1653951
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Common Peroneal Nerve Grafting to Repair the Tibial Nerve as a Salvage Procedure in the Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Injury with Long-Segment Defects

Haodong Lin
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
,
Desong Chen
2   Department of Hand Surgery, Ningbo No. 6 Hospital, Zhejiang, China
,
Chunlin Hou
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by the Shuguang Program of Shanghai Education Development Foundation and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (grant number 15SG34) and the Project of Research doctor of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital (grant 201712).
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Publication History

28 December 2017

07 April 2018

Publication Date:
21 May 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Background In sciatic nerve neuropathies, when direct nerve repair is impossible due to a large gap, nerve grafting can be performed. However, the diameters of traditional autologous nerve grafts are too small to cover the whole cross-sectional area of the sciatic nerve. The aim of this study is to present the outcome of common peroneal nerve grafting to repair the tibial nerve in eight patients with sciatic nerve injuries, showing long defects of more than 10 cm.

Methods Between 2007 and 2013, the common peroneal nerve was used as an autograft to repair the tibial nerve in eight patients with complete high sciatic nerve injury with long defects. There were 6 men and 2 women with an average age of 31 years (range: 17–44 years). Muscle strength was evaluated using the British Medical Research Council scale. The Semmes–Weinstein monofilament test was used for sensory evaluation.

Results The follow-up time for patients ranged from 36 to 60 months, with an average of 48.75 months. Tibial nerve motor function was “good” or “very good” (M3–M4) in five out of eight patients (55.6%). Plantar flexion was not adequate in the rest of the patients. Sensory recovery was “good” or “very good” (S2–S3) in six patients and “inadequate” (S4) in two patients.

Conclusion In cases where there were extensive gaps in the sciatic nerve, using the common peroneal nerve as an autograft to repair the tibial nerve provides an alternative to traditional nerve graft repair.

Keywords

sciatic nerve - nerve graft - plantar flexion