Peripheral nerve injuries; early surgical treatment.

Injuries to the major nerves of the extremities are common.Surgical treatment should be undertaken soon after injury that completely or partly severs a peripheral nerve, because permanent changes appear in muscles that are deprived of nerve supply for more than a few months. The muscular changes may prevent restoration of normal function even though actual nerve regeneration is adequate. Injuries which do not completely sever a nerve may be hard to diagnose but special methods such as electromyography are helpful.