ASSESSING THE OUTCOME OF NERVE RECONSTRUCTION WITH EXTENDED NERVE GRAFT.

In this study, we evaluated the functional outcomes of nerve reconstruction for nerve gaps exceeding 7 cm, using sural nerve autografts. The cases primarily involved brachial plexus injuries and peripheral nerve injuries. The most frequent causes of these injuries were motorcycle accidents and workplace incidents, predominantly affecting young individuals. The best outcomes for nerve injuries are achieved through primary coaptation. All the patients in our study underwent delayed nerve reconstruction rather than primary repair for various reasons, resulting in outcomes that were not as favourable as those of primary repair. Despite using avascular nerve grafts to bridge long nerve gaps, many of our patients still experienced meaningful recovery. Motor function recovery outperformed sensory function recovery across all types of reconstructions. Hence, in situations where facilities and expertise for vascularized nerve grafts are unavailable, attempting reconstruction with an extended nerve graft for long nerve gap is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]