Assessment of Motor Function in Peripheral Nerve Injury and Recovery (original) (raw)

Factors predicting sensory and motor recovery after the repair of upper limb peripheral nerve injuries

Neural regeneration research, 2014

To investigate the factors associated with sensory and motor recovery after the repair of upper limb peripheral nerve injuries. The online PubMed database was searched for English articles describing outcomes after the repair of median, ulnar, radial, and digital nerve injuries in humans with a publication date between 1 January 1990 and 16 February 2011. THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ARTICLE WERE SELECTED: (1) clinical trials describing the repair of median, ulnar, radial, and digital nerve injuries published in English; and (2) studies that reported sufficient patient information, including age, mechanism of injury, nerve injured, injury location, defect length, repair time, repair method, and repair materials. SPSS 13.0 software was used to perform univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses and to investigate the patient and intervention factors associated with outcomes. Sensory function was assessed using the Mackinnon-Dellon scale and motor function was assessed using th...

A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical Outcome Measure Use in Peripheral Nerve Injury of the Upper Limb

Neurosurgery, 2021

BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is common, leading to reduced function, pain, and psychological impact. Treatment has not progressed partly due to inability to compare outcomes between centers managing PNI. Numerous outcome measures exist but there is no consensus on which outcome measures to use nor when. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review in order to describe and classify outcome measures used in PNI. METHODS A search of Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and CENTRAL (Cochrane Clinical Trials) was conducted. Randomized control trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case-controlled and case series (≥5 participants) published from inception of the database until 2019 investigating adult patients with a traumatic upper limb PNI in which an outcome measurement was utilized were included. RESULTS A total of 96 studies were included (15 RCTs, 8 case-control studies, 18 cohort studies, 5 observational studies, and the remainder were c...

Manual stimulation of forearm muscles does not improve recovery of motor function after injury to a mixed peripheral nerve

Experimental Brain Research, 2008

Transection and re-anastomosis of the purely motor facial nerve leads to poor functional recovery. However, we have recently shown in rat that manual stimulation (MS) of denervated vibrissal muscles reduces the number of polyinnervated motor endplates and promotes full recovery of whisking. Here, we examined whether MS of denervated rat forearm muscles would also improve recovery following transection and suture of the mixed (sensory and motor) median nerve (median-median anastomosis, MMA). Following MMA of the right median nerve, animals received no postoperative treatment, daily MS of the forearm muscles or handling only. An almost identical level of functional recovery, measured by the force of grip in grams, was reached in all animals by the sixth postoperative week and maintained till 3 months following surgery regardless of the postoperative treatment. Also, we found no diVerences among the groups in the degree of axonal sprouting, the extent of motor endplate polyinnervation and in the soma size of regenerated motoneurons. Taken together, we show that while MS is beneWcial following motor nerve injury, combined strategies will be required for functional recovery following mixed nerve injury.

Rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injuries

Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America, 2002

Proper management of peripheral nerve injuries requires an understanding of the distribution and function of nerves, the mechanisms of nerve injury, and an appreciation of the regeneration process. It is imperative to astutely examine the patient to obtain the clinical clues necessary for accurate diagnosis. Detection and localization of nerve injury can be complicated in the presence of multiple additional trauma, such as fractures or vascular compromise. Carefully planned and performed electrodiagnostic studies based on the history and examination offer additional diagnostic and prognostic information.

Clinical Value of Electrodiagnostic Testing Following Repair of Peripheral Nerve Lesions: A Prospective Study

The Journal of Hand Surgery: Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, 2002

This study prospectively assessed the level of correlation between functional and electrophysiological recovery after median and ulnar nerve lacerations. Motor and sensory recovery were recorded clinically and electrophysiologically every 3 months in 24 patients with 29 complete median or ulnar nerve lacerations. The strength of agreement between the clinical motor score and the electrophysiological score was “fair”, but in 41% a discrepancy was identified (kappa factor 0.39). Regeneration was not detected earlier by electrophysiology than by a thoroughly performed clinical evaluation. This suggests that electrophysiologic testing is of value as an adjunct to clinical assessment for evaluating cases in which there is clinical doubt as to the progress of regeneration and secondary surgery is contemplated.

Peripheral nerve injuries and repair in the upper extremity

Bulletin (Hospital for Joint Diseases (New York, N.Y.))

Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly seen as a result of domestic, industrial, or military trauma. Sharp objects usually cause these nerve injuries. When assessing these injuries, it is important to evaluate each nerves' motor and sensory function. One must be cognizant of associated injuries such as fractures, vascular damage, and musculotendinous lacerations. The time since the injury, level of injury, and age of the patient are important prognosticators impacting the return of function. Intraoperatively, one must assess the vascularity of the soft tissue bed and the nerve itself, the nerve gap, conduction, and the topography of the fascicles to insure proper orientation. Application of the principles of nerve repair (magnification, minimal tension, meticulous soft tissue handling, experienced surgeon and staff) can enhance the chances for a successful result. Additionally, to maximize functional recovery following peripheral nerve repair, a carefully planned program of post...