Skip to main content

Severe Peripheral Nerve Injury

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management

Abstract

Nerve injuries can occur during general anesthesia as a result of patient positioning and/or tourniquet placement; during regional anesthesia, there is the potential for direct injury to the nerve. Risk factors are often multifactorial, and it is helpful to classify these into various categories: patient-related, anesthesia-related, and surgery-related causes. This chapter classifies identifiable risk factors and how they can be evaded. Clinical manifestations of commonly encountered nerve injuries are described, so the perioperative providers can quickly recognize a peripheral nerve deficit. The diagnosis can be aided by EMG, nerve stimulation, and certain imaging techniques. Early nerve repair results in improved functional outcomes. Surgical techniques and nonsurgical techniques are also described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Prielipp RC. Perioperative nerve injuries and. Risk Manage. 2010;33(1):220–8. Retrieved from http://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/rma/cma-2010/cmas101ba.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Welch MB, Brummett CM, Welch TD, Tremper KK, Shanks AM, Guglani P, Mashour GA. Perioperative peripheral nerve injuries. Anesthesiology. 2009;111(3):490–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181af61cb. PMID: 19672188.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kopp SL, Jacob AK, Hebl JR. Regional anesthesia in patients with preexisting neurologic disease. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015;40(5):467–78. https://doi.org/10.1097/AAP.0000000000000179. PMID: 26115188.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Neal JM. ASRA practice advisory on neurologic complications in regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2008;35(5):404–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Neal JM. Anatomy and pathophysiology of spinal cord injury associated with regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2008;33(5):423–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Staff NP, Engelstad J, Klein CJ, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ, Dyck PJ. Post-surgical inflammatory neuropathy. Brain. 2010;133(10):2866–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awq252. PMID: 20846945.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hebl JR, Horlocker TT, Pritchard DJ. Diffuse brachial plexopathy after interscalene blockade in a patient receiving cisplatin chemotherapy: the pharmacologic double crush syndrome. Anesth Analg. 2001;92(1):249–51. PMID: 11133638.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Koff MD, Cohen JA, McIntyre JJ, Carr CF, Sites BD. Severe brachial plexopathy after an ultrasound-guided single-injection nerve block for total shoulder arthroplasty in a patient with multiple sclerosis. Anesthesiology. 2008;108(2):325–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.anes.0000299833.73804.cd. PMID: 18212578.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Brull R, Hadzic A, Reina MA, Barrington MJ. Pathophysiology and etiology of nerve injury following peripheral nerve blockade. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015;40(5):479–90. https://doi.org/10.1097/AAP.0000000000000125.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Selander D, Brattsand R, Lundborg G, Nordborg C, Olsson Y. Local anesthetics: importance of mode of application, concentration and adrenaline for the appearance of nerve lesions. An experimental study of axonal degeneration and barrier damage after intrafascicular injection or topical application of bupivacaine (Marcain). Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1979;23(2):127–36. PMID: 442943.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hogan QH. Pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury during regional anesthesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2008;33(5):435–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu H, Tariq R, Liu GL, Yan H, Kaye AD. Inadvertent intrathecal injections and best practice management. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2017;61(1):11–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/aas.12821. PMID: 27766633.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kroll DA, Caplan RA. Nerve injury associated with anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 1990;73(2):202–7. PMID: 2382845.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Egan TD, Joyce SM. Acute compartment syndrome following a minor athletic injury. J Emerg Med. 1989;7(4):353–7. PMID: 2600392.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fanelli GC. Nerve stimulator and multiple injection technique for upper and lower limb blockade: failure rate, patient acceptance, and neurologic complications. Anesth Analg. 1999;88:847–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fritzlen T, Kremer M, Biddle C. The AANA Foundation closed malpractice claims study on nerve injuries during anesthesia care. AANA J. 2003;71(5):347–52. PMID: 14625971.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Warner MA, Warner ME, Martin JT. Ulnar neuropathy. Incidence, outcome, and risk factors in sedated or anesthetized patients. Anesthesiology. 1994;81(6):1332–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lalkhen AG, Bhatia K. Perioperative peripheral nerve injuries. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2012;12(1):38–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkr048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Association of Operating Room Nurses. Recommended practices for positioning the patient in the perioperative practice setting. 2005 standards, recommended practices, and guidelines. Denver: AORN Inc; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Warner MA, Warner DO, Matsumoto JY, Harper CM, Schroeder DR, Maxson PM. Ulnar neuropathy in surgical patients. Anesthesiology. 1999;90(1):54–9. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9915312.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wojtkiewicz DM, Saunders J, Domeshek L, Novak CB, Kaskutas V, Mackinnon SE. Social impact of peripheral nerve injuries. Hand. 2015;10(2):161–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9692-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Holland, N. R. (2017). Electrodiagnostic testing for nerve injuries and repairs. In Rehabilitative surgery. 2017: 89–94. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41406-5_8.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Pathak L. Peri-operative peripheral nerve injury. Health Renaissance. 2013;11(3):260–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Siegal D, Davis L, Scheer M, Walker L. Entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremity nerves. Curr Radiol Rep. 2016;4(12):63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40134-016-0190-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pfister BJ. Biomedical engineering strategies for peripheral nerve repair: surgical applications, state of the art, and future challenges. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2011;39(2):81–124. [REVIEWED].

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lee SK. Peripheral nerve injury and repair. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2000;8(4):243–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Nectow AR. Biomaterials for the development of peripheral nerve guidance conduits. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2012;18(1):40–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Grinsell DK, Keating CP. Peripheral nerve reconstruction after injury: a review of clinical and experimental therapies. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/698256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Evans GR. Peripheral nerve injury: a review and approach to tissue engineered constructs. Anat Rec. 2001;263(4):396–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dong MM. Stem cell and peripheral nerve injury and repair. Facial Plast Surg. 2010;26(5):421–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. George EB. Axotomy-induced axonal degeneration is mediated by calcium influx through ion-specific channels. J Neurosci. 1995;15:6445–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Stoll GJ. Degeneration and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system: from Augustus Waller’s observations to neuroinflammation. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2002;7(1):13–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ray WZ. Management of nerve gaps: autografts, allografts, nerve transfers, and end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Exp Neurol. 2010;223(1):77–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mackinnon S. New directions in peripheral nerve surgery. Ann Plast Surg. 1989;22(3):257–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Siemionow MZ. A contemporary overview of peripheral nerve research from Cleveland clinic microsurgery laboratory. Plastic and reconstructive surgery: experimental models and research designs. Berlin, Germany: Springer link; 2014. p. 405–11.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Dvali LM. Nerve repair, grafting, and nerve transfers. Clin Plast Surg. 2003;30(2):203–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ducic IF. Innovative treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Ann Plast Surg. 2012;68(2):180–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Griffin MF, Malahias M, Hindocha S, Khan WS. Peripheral nerve injury: principles for repair and regeneration. Open Orthop J. 2014;8:199–203. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874325001408010199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Ogata KN. Blood flow of peripheral nerve effects of dissection stretching and compression. J Hand Surg. 1986;11(1):10–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Martini A, Fromm B. A new operation for the prevention and treatment of amputation neuromas. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1989;71(3):379–82. PMID: 2722924.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Rovak JM. Terminolateral neurorrhaphy: a review of the literature. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2001;17(8):615–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Lykissas MG. Current concepts in end-to-side neurorrhaphy. World J Orthop. 2011;2(11):102–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Brien O. Repair of median and ulnar nerves. J Bone Joint Surg. 1991;73B(1):154–7.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Millesi H. Progress in peripheral nerve reconstruction. World J Surg. 1990;14(6):733–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Matsuyama T, Mackay M, Midha R. Peripheral nerve repair and grafting techniques: a review. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2000;40(4):187–99. PMID: 10853317.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Siemionow MB. Chapter 8: Current techniques and concepts in peripheral nerve repair. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2009;87(c):141–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Battiston BT. Alternative techniques for peripheral nerve repair: conduits and end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2007;100:43–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Barcelos AS. Inside-out vein graft and inside-out artery graft in rat sciatic nerve repair. Microsurgery. 2003;23(1):66–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Lietz M, Ullrich A, Schulte-Eversum C, Oberhoffner S, Fricke C, Müller HW, Schlosshauer B. Physical and biological performance of a novel block copolymer nerve guide. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2006;93(1):99–109. PMID: 16187339.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Isaacs J. Treatment of acute peripheral nerve injuries: current concepts. J Hand Surg. 2010;35(3):491–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Houschyar KS. The role of current techniques and concepts in peripheral nerve repair. Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Gordon TA. Brief post-surgical electrical stimulation accelerates axon regeneration and muscle reinnervation without affecting the functional measures in carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Exp Neurol. 2010;223(1):192–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Henry FP. Improving electrophysiologic and histologic outcomes by photochemically sealing amnion to the peripheral nerve repair site. Surgery. 2009;145(3):313–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Tse RK. Nerve glue for upper extremity reconstruction. Hand Clin. 2012;28(4):529–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Sameem MW. A systematic review on the use of fibrin glue for peripheral nerve repair. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;127(6):2381–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Aebischer P. Schwann cell but not olfactory ensheathing glia transplants improve hindlimb locomotor performance. J Neurosci. 1992;12(9):3310–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Walsh SM. Use of stem cells to augment nerve injury repair. Neurosurgery. 2009;65(suppl.4):80–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Chen CJ, Ou YC, Liao SL, Chen WY, Chen SY, Wu CW, et al. Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells for peripheral nerve repair. Exp Neurol. 2007;204(1):443–53. PMID: 17222827.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Dezawa M, Takahashi I, Esaki M, Takano M, Sawada H. Sciatic nerve regeneration in rats induced by transplantation of in vitro differentiated bone-marrow stromal cells. Eur J Neurosci. 2001;14(11):1771–6. PMID: 11860471.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Yu LH. Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of acute brain anoxia: report of 91 cases. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1983;63(7):444–6. No abstract available PMID: 6416650.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Hsu RW, Hsu WH, Tai CL, Lee KF. Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on patellar tendinopathy in a rabbit model. J Trauma. 2004;57(5):1060–4. PMID: 15580033.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Sanchez EC. Hyperbaric oxygenation in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. Neurol Res. 2007;29(2):184–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Makoukji J, Belle M, Meffre D, Stassart R, Grenier J, Shackleford G. Lithium enhances remyelination of peripheral nerves. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109(10):3973–8. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1121367109. PMID: 22355115.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Chang CJ. Low-intensity-ultrasound-accelerated nerve regeneration using cell-seeded poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) conduits: an in vivo and in vitro study. J Biomed Mater Res Part B. 2005;75(1):99–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tariq, R. et al. (2019). Severe Peripheral Nerve Injury. In: Fox, III, C., Cornett, E., Ghali, G. (eds) Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96125-5_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96125-5_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-96124-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-96125-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics