After 138 nerve sutures in the upper extremity the static and moving two-point discrimination tests were performed in the normal and the injured hand. Moving two-point discrimination recovered to a better level in 61%, the same level in 38%, and a worse level in 1% than static two-point discrimination after nerve repair.
QUESTION UNDER STUDY: To establish at what stage Swiss hospitals are in implementing an internal standard concerning communication with patients and families after an error that resulted in harm. METHODS: Hospitals were identified via the Swiss Hospital Association’s website. An anonymous questionnaire was sent during September and October 2011 to 379 hospitals in German, French or Italian. Hospitals were asked to specify their hospital type and the implementation status of an internal hospital standard that decrees that patients or their relatives are to be promptly informed about medical errors that result in harm. RESULTS: Responses from a total of 205 hospitals were received, a response rate of 54%. Most responding hospitals (62%) had an error disclosure standard or planned to implement one within 12 months. The majority of responding university and acute care (75%) hospitals had introduced a disclosure standard or were planning to do so. In contrast, the majority of responding psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty (53%) clinics had not introduced a standard. CONCLUSION: It appears that Swiss hospitals are in a promising state in providing institutional support for practitioners disclosing medical errors to patients. This has been shown internationally to be one important factor in encouraging the disclosure of medical errors. However, many hospitals, in particular psychiatric, rehabilitation and specialty clinics, have not implemented an error disclosure policy. Further research is needed to explore the underlying reasons.
The frequency of different trophic alterations was examined in 120 patients with 143 primary nerve sutures. Trophic alterations are dependent on the age of the patients and the quality of sensory recovery.
Abstract The results of primary repair of peripheral nerve injury in the upper extremity are reported for 143 nerves in 120 patients, with a mean follow‐up of 24 months. Normal values for static and moving two‐point discrimination were established and related to the person's age. Sensory reeducation was employed routinely in the postoperative rehabilitation program. Moving two‐point discrimination recovered to a better level in 61%, the same level in 38%, and a worse level in 1% than static two‐point discrimination after nerve repair. Results for digital, median, ulnar, and radial nerve repairs are reported.
143 primary nerve sutures in the upper extremity were examined for sensory and motor recovery according to the scheme of Highet (1954). The majority of the patients had digital nerve lesions (72.3%). Different factors were evaluated for their influence on nerve regeneration. Using a standard operative technique static two-point discrimination returns in two thirds of the cases.
