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Background: We aimed to investigate the effects of nerve repair by setting a side-to-side (H-shaped) nerve graft on the most distal part of the damaged nerve to the adjacent intact nerve to accelerate its regeneration in the end organ., Methods: This pure experimental study was done on the lower extremities of two groups of rabbits in Animal Laboratory Department, 15 Khordad Hospital Tehran, Iran. In both groups, the sciatic nerve at the proximal part of the extremity below the superficial femoral branch was first cut and then repaired. In the investigation group, side-to-side H-shaped nerve grafts were applied between the sciatic and superficial femoral nerves (i.e., two branches) at the most distal to the cut site of the sciatic nerve below the superficial femoral branch at the lower extremity. The sciatic nerve was conventionally repaired in the control group., Results: None of the rabbits' feet in the control group respond to pain stimulation (were without senses) and had ulcers. They had numb legs and went lame. All had muscular atrophy and lacked nerve growth (regeneration) according to pathology. In the investigation group, 86.7% of the rabbits responded to pain stimulation and only 13.3% of them had ulcers. In addition, in pathology report, 13.3% had suffered muscular atrophy and lacked nerve regeneration. Therefore, nerve regeneration was successful in 86.7% of rabbits who underwent H-shaped nerve grafts., Conclusion: Side-to-side H-shaped nerve graft at the most distal part of an injured nerve may cause successful recovery of high (proximal) nerve injury., Competing Interests: The authors attest that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Background: Preventing perineural adhesions and scars formation in the traumatic peripheral injuries is very important on the recovery process. We aimed to evaluate the effect of using the amniotic membrane wrapping on the results of surgical treatment of damaged peripheral nerves., Methods: This cohort study included 30 patients with symptoms of acute peripheral nerve injuries due to penetrating trauma in the forearm or wrist in January 2019 to November 2020 referred to the Hand and Microsurgery Department, 15 Khordad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. In 15 patients, after nerve repair, amniotic membrane coverage was used around the nerve, all patients were followed for 12 months. Ultrasound study for neuroma formation and nerve regeneration was determined based on EMG and NCV findings. The modified Medical Research Councile classification (MRCC) was used to evaluate of motor and sensory recovery., Results: In the amniotic membrane wrapping group, all patients had nerve regeneration and functional nerve recovery occurred after 12 months. In the control group, 5 patients (33.4%) did not have nerve recovery and had functional and sensory impairment. In terms of functional capabilities; there was a significant difference in pinch strength, grip power and MRCC scoring between the two groups. Moreover, the mean volume of neuroma in these patients who used amniotic membrane covering was 2.7 mm 3 and in the control group, it was 3.9 mm 3 ( P =0.001). Five patients who did not have a damaged nerve, the neuroma volume was 4.8 ± 0.9 mm 3 ., Conclusion: The use of amniotic membrane covering is effective methods in the improve results of peripheral nerve repair and nerve function recovery., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest to be reported.

Background: Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a severe peripheral nerve injury resulting in physical disability. Few studies have investigated the postoperative functional status. We aimed to evaluate the satisfaction with surgical treatment in patients with BPI referred to the Panzdah-e Khordad Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2011 to 2021., Methods: In this descriptive-analytical retrospective comparative study, physical examination, along with BrAT, and DASH questionnaires were used to evaluate the patients' status. Then the collected data on the patients' functional status and movements were collected. To compare the mean of quantitative variables before and after the surgery, the dependent t-student was used., Results: Generally, the patients stated that they still had considerable difficulty doing most of the items of the questionnaires. Nevertheless, there was a significant difference between the following variables before and after surgery; shoulder abduction goniometry (0-150) and force (M0:M5), shoulder external rotation goniometry (0-90) and force (M0:M5)), shoulder forward flexion goniometry (0-180) and force (M0:M5)), elbow flexion goniometry (0- 150), elbow extension force (M0:M5), and wrist and finger muscle force (M0:M5) (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Posterior approach in BPI surgery was associated with good outcomes in terms of shoulder external rotation and abduction. However, patients still suffered from difficulties in daily activities., Competing Interests: The authors of this study declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Background: Extended Soft tissue defect of leg including middle and distal parts always has been a challenge for many plastic surgeons and also a frustrated problem for patients and families. To introduce the use of the soleus muscle and reverse sural flaps as synchronous surgical treatment alternative of the leg bone exposure with large soft tissue defect, this study was conducted., Methods: The medical records of patients undergoing transposition of the soleus muscle for treating exposed bone in the leg and simultaneous sural flap were retrospectively analyzed from January 2009 to July 2014, while gathering information on the used muscle was to cover the lesion., Results: Twelve patients with varying ages between 22 and 58 years (10 males and 2 females) were enrolled. The main initial injury was trauma (84.8%), consisting of tibia and/or fibula fractures. Only 1 patient developed insignificant distal flap necrosis who was treated subsequently with surgical debridement and flap re-advancement., Conclusion: The treatment of bone exposure with local muscle flaps (soleus and sural) enables obtaining satisfactory results in covering of exposed structures, favoring local vascularization and improving the initial injury. It offers the advantage of providing a treatment in only one surgical procedure, an earlier recovery and reduced hospital stay. Sometimes, this method may be applied instead of free tissue transfer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Lesions in peripheral nerves are highly prevalent in the upper extremity. The present study compares different tendon transfer surgeries in patients with radial nerve palsy., Methods: Fifty patients with radial nerve palsy were randomly selected among patients who referred to Tehran 15(th) Khordad Hospital during 2006-2011. They were divided into two groups of 17 and 33 subjects. Single tendon transfer surgery was performed on 33 and ternary tendon transfer surgery on 17 patients and were compared., Results: No significant difference was noticed in the range of motion of metacarpophalangeal joint, proximal interphalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joint joints between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the results of single tendon and ternary tendon transfer surgeries between the two groups. There was no need to sacrifice three tendons in tendon transfer surgeries on patients with radial nerve palsy., Conclusion: Single tendon transfer surgery may help establishing a finger extension while indicates to its considerable advantages of surgical simplicity, shorter surgery time, less complications and surgery scars.

Background: Split- thickness skin graft is one of the most common operations in plastic surgery. It is always painful and patient discomfort from donor site often is more significant than recipient site. There is not still a standard method for treatment of the donor site. The purpose of this study was to determine the best method of dressing the donor site among three different methods with respect to the rate of healing, pain, secretion, infection and cost., Methods: The study includes 60 patients that were randomly divided into three groups. Donor site and thickness of the graft was the same and were dressed with one of the methods including Method A: Paraffin fine mesh gauze, Method B: Nitrofurazone soaked fine mesh gauze and Method C: Dry fine mesh gauze. Each method included an intermediate layer of sterile plastic sheet witch was covered with 10 layers of dry gauze. Comparison with respect to the rate of healing, pain, secretion, infection and cost was done., Results: Thirty seven patients were men and 23 were women. The mean age of the patients was 27.2 years. There was a significant difference between three methods in average time of repair and superiority of dressing with Method B was noted. Pain severity was the least in Method B and difference between the methods was significant. Dressing with Method B had the least secretion and there was a statistically significant difference between three methods. There was no statistically significant difference in cost of the management., Conclusion: This study showed that dressing the donor site with nitrofurazone ointment soaked gauze used as the first layer of dressing and intermediate layer of sterile plastic sheet which was covered with 10 layers of dry gauze was the best method of dressing and had the least complications.