Palmaris brevis turnover flap as an adjunct to internal neurolysis of the chronically scarred median nerve in recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Thirteen hands in 11 patients with previous carpal tunnel releases were treated by microscopic internal neurolysis and palmaris brevis "turnover" flaps. All patients in the series had positive electrodiagnostic testing, dysesthetic wrist pain, and numbness in the median nerve distribution before operation. Average age was 41.9 years (range, 27 to 62 years). Ten were male and 3 were female. Range of follow-up after the procedure was from 1 to 1 1/2 years. All hands with abnormal preoperative two-point discriminations or Semmes-Weinstein measurements showed numerical improvement in their sensory parameters. Thenar strength and bulk improved at least one grade in all six cases of thenar atrophy. Mean grip strength was 15.2% greater than before operation. Key pinch increased 5.5% and pulp pinch 31.9%. Subjective assessment of improvement ranged from 25% to 100%. All patients returned to their former jobs or to vocational retaining except the oldest patient who is semiretired.

The "cap" technique: nonmicrosurgical reattachment of fingertip amputations.

With the exception of children, amputations at the level of the lunula survive poorly by direct reattachment. Microsurgical replantation is costly and often fails because of poor venous drainage. In a series of seven adult patients the severed tip was filleted and replaced as a "cap" over the skeletonized distal phalanx of the stump. A 2 mm remnant of germinal matrix was preserved for nail regrowth. The reconstructed digits, although shortened by an average of 6 mm, give the "illusion" of a normal finger. All were successful with small areas of tip necrosis in two, healing by secondary reepithelialization. Mean static two-point discrimination was 6.5 mm (range, 3 to 10 mm) and pulp pinch was 67% of normal. The "cap" technique of nonmicrosurgical reattachment is a simple, reliable method of functional preservation of pulp tissue, as well as normal esthetic appearance of the nail complex.

The reversed venous arterialized nerve graft in digital nerve reconstruction across scarred beds.

Conventional nerve grafts in complex digital injuries often yield poor results, particularly when placed in traumatized or avascular beds. Vascularized nerve grafts offer an option; experimental evidence suggests superior axonal regeneration across scarred beds with vascularized nerve grafts. We previously described a vascularized graft based on the dorsalis pedis artery--deep peroneal nerve "system." Reluctance to sacrifice this major artery, combined with the recent description by Townsend and Taylor and Gu, et al, of "reversed venous" arterialized nerve grafts, spurred us on to investigate the deep peroneal nerve--dorsalis pedis venae comitantes system. Fourteen neurovenous grafts were used in scarred or poorly vascularized beds for digital nerve reconstruction in 10 patients over a 4-year period. Graft length averaged 4.4 cm; interval from injury was 1 to 17 months. Sensory parameters of return included average static two-point discrimination of 8.3 mm, moving two-point discrimination of 5.8 mm, and median Semmes-Weinstein monofilament appreciation of 2.83. Two patients received three vascularized grafts and three conventional grafts for adjacent nerve injuries in the same digit, serving as internal controls. In these patients, the vascularized nerve grafts returned mean static two-point discrimination values of 9.3 mm and moving two-point discrimination values of 6.7 mm. The conventional nerve grafts averaged static two-point discrimination of 14.3 mm and moving two-point discrimination values of 10.3 mm. These differences imply enhanced axonal regeneration through vascularized nerve grafts. These data suggest that the reversed neurovenous graft may be the procedure of choice in secondary reconstruction of digital nerves across scarred beds or following injuries with poor soft-tissue vascularity, especially in those patients with cold intolerance.

Microsurgical management of complex fingertip injuries: comparison to conventional skin grafting.

In selected cases of severe fingertip injuries, an aggressive approach using microvascular and microneural techniques can yield functional results equal or superior to conventional methods of treatment in less severe injuries. A series of 20 patients were treated microsurgically from 1983 to 1986 for severe acute distal finger injuries or their early sequelae--five distal replantations, eight neurovascular free tissue transfers, and nine distal neurorrhaphies/nerve grafts with or without vascular conduit. Concurrently, 33 simpler tip avulsions were treated with full-thickness skin grafts for comparison. In the microsurgical series, one replant and the distal 1 cm of a free toe flap necrosed. Replants averaged two-point discrimination of 9.8 mm and pulp pinch 65 percent of normal; free toe transfers, two-point of 6 mm, pulp pinch 58 percent; distal nerve reconstruction, two-point 6 mm. Operating time per digit averaged 5.0 hours for replants, 4.3 hours for toe flaps, and 1.5 hours for nerve repair/grafts. All patients returned to full pre-injury employment within six months. None required revisional surgery for dysesthetic fingertips. In the conventional skin graft series, greater than six months follow-up is available in 17 patients. Average two-point was 7 mm (range: 3 to greater than 15 mm) and pulp pinch 83 percent of normal. There were seven poor results with cold intolerance, numbness, and paresthesias, three of which required revisional surgery. The data suggest that microsurgical management of fingertip injuries achieves results comparable to skin grafts, despite the greater complexity of the initial injury. This approach has resulted in fewer secondary tip revisions. Operative times are acceptable. Parameters of sensory return are similar, although pulp pinch is slightly less. Disability times are comparable to the average in major pulp losses. Of importance, final permanent partial factors of disability are diminished in rating, due to retained digital length, improved esthetic appearance, and less dysesthesia/cold intolerance.

Restoration of sensibility to anesthetic scarred digits with free vascularized nerve grafts from the dorsum of the foot.

Five cases of segmental vascularized nerve grafts that bridge scarred beds for digital sensory nerve reconstruction where previous nonvascularized nerve grafts have failed are reported. Average follow-up in this study was 27 4/5 months. Three patients were men and two were women. Average age was 35 1/2 years. The thumb was the recipient digit in one patient; the index finger in two patients; and the long finger in two patients (primary opposing digit). Three digits had suffered amputation and two had crush lacerations. Average graft length was 6.6 mm. Pin prick, touch, and vibratory sensation were restored in all patients (slightly impaired in one). Average moving two-point discrimination was 7.2 mm; average static two-point discrimination was 9.5 mm. Von Frey monofilament cutaneous pressure averaged 4.03 gm. Donor morbidity was negligible except for a neuroma in one patient and slight superficial skin loss in another.