The results of secondary microsurgical repair of radial nerve in 33 patients.

33 patients with injuries to the radial nerve were reviewed, on average, 12.1 (5-20) years after secondary repair. 24 were male and nine female, with a mean age of 29.8 (7-54) years. Most of the nerve lesions were blunt (17) or sharp (14) injuries. Division was total in 24 cases and they were mostly injured at the upper arm level (21 cases). The average interval between injury and repair was 6.0 (1-19) months. The procedures used were fascicular grafting in 21 and direct suture in 12 cases. Motor and sensory recovery were evaluated quantitatively. Useful results were obtained in 65.0% and useless in 25.0%. Fascicular grafting restored a useful level of motor function in only 8/21 cases (38.1%). Pre-operative delay had a significant influence. Associated lesions proved to be the critical factor for restoration of radial nerve function.