The use of ultrasound-guided imaging to localize peripheral nerve injury in pediatric patients: A case report.

Abstract

Background: The use of ultrasonography to diagnose and manage peripheral nerve injury is not routinely performed, but is an advantageous alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the pediatric population.

Case description: The authors report a case of a toddler-aged female who sustained a supracondylar fracture and subsequent median and ulnar nerve injuries. All preoperative and postoperative imaging was performed through high-resolution ultrasound as opposed to MRI. Starting at 6 months post-nerve repair and with 18 months of follow-up, the patient exhibited substantial improvement in motor strength and sensory function. This case demonstrated a successful outcome while providing an imaging alternative that is portable, relatively low-cost, lacks ionizing radiation, provides additional information on vascular integrity, and obviates the need for general anesthetic such as MRI.

Conclusion: The authors conclude that the use of ultrasonography to diagnose and manage traumatic peripheral nerve injury is advantageous, particularly in the pediatric population.