RESUMO
To describe a successful case of sural nerve cable grafting to the leg following a gunshot injury. A 28-year-old man was shot at close range, sustaining extensive damage to the left popliteal fossa. Initial exploratory operation revealed a pierced sciatic nerve proximal to its bifurcation into the tibial and common peroneal branches. The 60% division 3.5-cm common peroneal deficit and the complete transection of the tibial division were repaired using an ipsilateral sural cable nerve graft that was not reversed. Initial reassessment in the clinic setting revealed a denervation atrophy of all 3 leg compartments and paraesthesia below the left knee sparing the sural nerve. After 3 months, the patient had a significant improvement in both power and sensation which was felt to be due to a resolution of a neuropraxic component to the nerve injury. Reassessment at 9 months and later at 14 months revealed an almost full recovery, suggestive of the success of the nerve grafting procedure. This report shows that, given favourable conditions, a good result is possible following use of cable nerve grafting to treat nerve damage from gunshot