Neurolyses of peripheral nerves of the lower extremities

AIM This study presents our results of 34 operations in 33 patients undergoing treatment of nerves of the lower extremities, using the method of neurolysis, during an eighteen-year-period, from 1985 to 2003. METHODOLOGY Thirty three patients underwent superficial neurolysis, five patients underwent both, superficial and internal neurolysis. The surgical procedures were conducted on patients, who suffered from complete or persisting neurological deficits. The cases, which required resection of the fascicles and reconstruction using autografts, as well as the cases, which had already had reconstructional procedures done, were not included in this study. The surgical procedure's efficacy was analysed considering the time delay of the operation after the injury, the patient's age and the type of the injured nerve. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Good and excellent results were reported in patients up to the age of 20 and in operations within 3 months after the injury. In all cases of the tibial nerve neurolyses excellent results were reported.