Radial and Peroneal Nerve Grafting: Functional Results

Background: Lesions of the Peroneal nerve are considered to have a poorer prognosis than those of the radial nerve.We suppose that the quality of the graft bed is one reason for this observation. Materials and Methods:Results after grafting of radial and Peroneal nerves were investigated in cases without additional tendon transfer.Clinical follow-up and chart review was performed.Results: 6 sural nerve graftings of the radial and 5 graftings of the Peroneal nerve were included.4 of 6 radial grafts were placed extra-anatomically.5 patients with complete wrist drop eventually achieved wrist extension, 4 of them after extra-anatomical graft placement.1 of 5 Peroneal grafts was placed extra-anatomically.Weakness in foot elevation could significantly be improved in 2 of 5 patients. Conclusions: Good functional recovery can be achieved by extra-anatomic positioning of radial nerve grafts.Results for Peroneal nerve grafts are inferior, possibly, among other factors, because improvement of graft bed vascularization by extra-anatomic graft positioning is less feasible here.