Intrinsic motor recovery--a long-term study of ulnar nerve repair.

This retrospective study was made in the middle 1970s when 41 patients with ulnar nerve laceration were examined 1 to 6 years after repair by epineurial suture. The original nerve gaps ranged from 1 to 5 cm. Intrinsic motor recovery was measured by clinical muscle testing, and strength assessment by using the Jamar dynamometer and the Osco pinch gauge. Results were expressed as a percentage of normal power. Young patients with high lesions showed variable results, often fairly good. Adults with high lesions never recovered acceptable function. Young patients with low lesions showed excellent results by 2 years. Adults with low sutures usually showed no recovery for 2 years but, on recall examination, were found to have recovered very good intrinsic motor power 2 1/2 to 6 years after repair. There was no clear correlation between the end result and either the delay in repair (up to 6 months) or in the measured nerve gap (maximum 5 cm). The results from the use of different suture materials was not studied except to note no obvious complications resulting from the materials used.