1285 Evaluation of Post-Operative Outcomes for Peripheral Nerve Injuries to the Hand: A Single-Centre Study

Aim This study aims to investigate all adults who suffered peripheral nerve injuries to the hand over a one-year period to assess adherence to The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) guidelines for nerve trauma. It also aims to assess clinical outcomes and provide strategies to optimise patient care. Method This is a single-centre retrospective analysis of 76 adult peripheral nerve injuries between November 2022 and November 2023. Data was collected and analysed regarding patients’ time from predentation to repair, mechanism and nature of injury, intra-operative practices and post-operative recovery and management. Results 60% of nerve injuries were repaired by consultant plastic or orthopaedic surgeons. On average, nerve injuries were repaired within 3.3 days of referral. 83% of nerve injuries were to digital nerves of the hand. The infection rate reported at the time of patients’ first clinic appointment was 8%. 10% of patients underwent secondary procedures including full-thickness skin grafts and further washouts. 84% of patients were referred to hand therapy following surgery. Conclusions This data highlights high rates of adherence to the BSSH guidelines with regards to the time from presentation to repair, in addition to the availability of competent hand therapy services and experienced microsurgeons to facilitate satisfactory post-operative outcomes. It also identifies areas for improvement including documentation of intra-operative equipment and the use of pharmacological aids.