Interfascicular Transplantation in Median Nerve Injuries

Twenty-four patients operated upon within a 3-year period for complete median nerve transection using the microsurgical interfascicular transplantation technique were examined after a minimum of 3 years' observation. Functional motoricity (M 3 or higher) was achieved by 83 per cent. With the exception of one patient, all achieved protective tactile sensibility (96 per cent). The results were best for distal lesions in children and youths. The outcome was just as satisfactory as that attained with epineurial suture carried out under ideal conditions. The method was found to be superior to epineurial end-to-end suture in cases of nerve defects longer than 2.5 cm.