Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS
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J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyPrognostic factors for outcome after median, ulnar, and combined median-ulnar nerve injuries: a prospective study.
A major problem in the surgical treatment of peripheral nerve injuries of the upper extremities is the unpredictable final outcome. More insight and understanding of the prognostic factors is necessary to improve functional outcome after repair of the peripheral nerves. The objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors for the functional recovery of peripheral nerve injury of the forearm and their independent contribution in the outcome in the first year after reconstruction. ⋯ Our prospective analysis of prognostic factors shows several factors to be predictive for the functional recovery after peripheral nerve injuries of the median and/or ulnar nerve of the forearm. Sensibility of the hand, power grip, and DASH score (DASH, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand) have proven to be the three best prognostic factors in this study. Of these prognostic factors, only posttraumatic stress can be influenced to optimize functional outcome.