[Secondary surgery for restoration of nerve function (author's transl)].

Abstract

The technique of nerve-suturing belongs in modern times to the domain of microsurgery. Without implementing the posibilities offered by microsurgery, nerve-suturing - even directly end-to-end - is obsolete. In order to obtain a sufficient functional end-result, suturing under tension must be avoided at all costs. Knowledge of this has given rise to the common interposition nerve grafts. Even with interposition grafts, no cases of growth-disturbances, including a failure of the nerve to grow or disturbances in function because of growth, have been observed in children. For a good post-op. results, a continual therapy with neurotropic medicaments, physiotherapy and faradisation, and neurophysiological checks on progress made in renervation are absolutely essential.