TECHNIC OF NERVE SUTURE AND NERVE GRAFTING

From the beginning of a peripheral nerve operation to its end a very perfect technic is necessary. The freeing of the ends of a divided nerve and the excision of the surrounding scar tissue with the least injury to the delicate nerve structure, the perfect control of bleeding, the accurate sectioning of nerve bulbs until good nerve fibers are exposed, the proper approximation and suture of the nerve ends without tension— all these and many other details are of great importance. One minute fault in technic—whether it be the failure to obtain a dry wound, too rough handling of the nerve trunk, insufficient excision of scar tissue from the bulb or from around the nerve, improper application of the sutures, etc.—and the chances for a good nerve regeneration are much diminished, no matter how skilfully all other manipulations have been accomplished.

On account of lack of time and space, nothing