Hamid Namazi1, Masood Kiani1, Saeed Gholamzadeh2, Amirreza Dehghanian3, Dehghani Nazhvani Fatemeh4. 1. Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran. 3. Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4. Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: f.dehghani135n@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In cases of sacral nerve avulsion injuries, proximal nerve stumps are not available because of its protected position in pelvis, and results of nerve repair or graft are unsatisfactory. Nerve transfer can reduce the regeneration time and improve the results of recovery. HYPOTHESIS: The obturator nerve transfer to the tibial nerve via saphenous nerve graft is possible and feasible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male adult cadaveric lower limbs dissected to identify the location of the anterior branch of obturator nerve, the saphenous nerve and the medial gastrocnemius branch. The saphenous nerve was cut from its origin and transferred to the anterior branch of obturator nerve. As well, it was cut distally and transferred to the medial gastrocnemius branch. After nerve coaptation, surface area and fascicle count were determined by histological methods. RESULTS: In all limbs, the proximal and distal stumps of saphenous nerve were reached the anterior branch of obturator and the medial gastrocnemius branch, respectively without tension. The mean of fascicle number in the anterior branch of obturator nerve, proximal and distal stump of the saphenous nerve and stump of medial gastrocnemius nerve branch were 2.90±0.99, 4.50±2.70, 4.00±2.26 and 4.30±1.25, respectively. DISCUSSION: This study showed that it is possible to transfer the obturator nerve to the medial gastrocnemius branch via saphenous nerve bridge; and their histological parameters are match in a good manner. Therefore, this technique is suggested for patients with sacral nerve avulsion injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series of cadaveric study.
INTRODUCTION: In cases of sacral nerve avulsion injuries, proximal nerve stumps are not available because of its protected position in pelvis, and results of nerve repair or graft are unsatisfactory. Nerve transfer can reduce the regeneration time and improve the results of recovery. HYPOTHESIS: The obturator nerve transfer to the tibial nerve via saphenous nerve graft is possible and feasible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male adult cadaveric lower limbs dissected to identify the location of the anterior branch of obturator nerve, the saphenous nerve and the medial gastrocnemius branch. The saphenous nerve was cut from its origin and transferred to the anterior branch of obturator nerve. As well, it was cut distally and transferred to the medial gastrocnemius branch. After nerve coaptation, surface area and fascicle count were determined by histological methods. RESULTS: In all limbs, the proximal and distal stumps of saphenous nerve were reached the anterior branch of obturator and the medial gastrocnemius branch, respectively without tension. The mean of fascicle number in the anterior branch of obturator nerve, proximal and distal stump of the saphenous nerve and stump of medial gastrocnemius nerve branch were 2.90±0.99, 4.50±2.70, 4.00±2.26 and 4.30±1.25, respectively. DISCUSSION: This study showed that it is possible to transfer the obturator nerve to the medial gastrocnemius branch via saphenous nerve bridge; and their histological parameters are match in a good manner. Therefore, this technique is suggested for patients with sacral nerve avulsion injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series of cadaveric study.
Authors: David Spencer Nichols; Jesse Fenton; Elizabeth Cox; Jonathan Dang; Anna Garbuzov; Patti McCall-Wright; Harvey Chim Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2022-08-24