Nerve and tendon injury,
lacerations and crush injuries
including the use of grafts and conduits
Lacerations of the upper limb are common in the house or workplace. Muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels, especially in the hand and wrist where they are superficial, are easily injured.
Injuries causing ischemia or blood loss should be treated urgently. Tendon and nerve injuries should be treated within 2 weeks of the injury. Later repair is technically more demanding, necessitating grafts or conduits with inferior results.
The nerves are repaired under the operating microscope with results expected only after months.
After tendon repair, rehabilitation should be started within days. Although the repaired tendons may function immediately, the rehabilitation process should be gradual and coordinated with the occupational therapist.