Surgical management of late post-traumatic and ischemic neuropathies involving the lower extremities: classification and results of therapy.

Traumatic/ischemic events such as fractures, dislocations, lacerations, compression, vascular injuries, and embolus can result in several degrees of nerve injury with resultant sequelae of paralysis, sensory loss, and irritative phenomena (pain, hyperesthesia, and dysesthesia). Neuroma pain may prevent rehabilitation following amputation or nerve lacerations. Thirty-four patients with the late sequelae of traumatic/ischemic neuropathies underwent 36 neural operations using magnification techniques to define and repair neural lesions. Major bone and joint reconstruction could be performed at the same operation with protection of arterial and venous supply. A recovery score using defined criteria for motor, sensory, and irritative (pain) recovery has been developed to quantify the end results in compression/ischemia, contusion/stretch, laceration, idiopathic/irritative disorder, and painful neuroma. Excellent and good results were found in 39 of the 87 specific deficits analyzed (45%). Thus, there is the possibility of improved results in these late neuropathies with therapy before irrevocable muscle fibrosis occurs and intractable pain develops.