Nerve-suturing, neurorrhaphy, nerve-grafting / by De Forest Willard.

  • Willard de Forest
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nerve-suturing, neurorrhaphy, nerve-grafting / by De Forest Willard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    in 2 ; within six months in 12 ; after one year in 1; after two years in 1. Motion returned on the next day in 1 case; after several days in 3; within the next two weeks in 9; within a month in 18; after six weeks in x ; within six months in 13 ; after one year in 3 ; after two years in 1; after three years in 2. In 1 case it was reported that motion had not returned at the end of a year. The amount of separation was one-half cm. in 18 cases; one cm. in 9; two cm. in 4; three cm. in 7; four cm. in 9 ; seven cm. in 1 ; ten cm. in 2 ; one inch in 1; two inches in 8. The results are given as follows: One death from hydatids. Improvement within the first month was noted in 6 cases; “motion and sensation improved in six months in 11 cases.” Complete return of motion and sensation took place in from one week to six months in 17 cases. A similar result is reported as having occurred in one month in 7; in six months in 14 ; in one year in 25 ; in two years in 18 ; in four years in 2. Fourteen cases are reported as cured; 3 as com- pletely cured in five years. Other cases are reported as showing a slight improvement in one, two, and three years respectively. These should be put down as un- successful cases. The total number of cases slightly improved is 10; either greatly improved in motion and sensation or absolutely cured, 10.2 ; very slightly im- proved, or not improved at the end of a year, 15; 1 death resulted from hydatids; thus giving 80 per cent, improved by operation, with practically no risk to life. CONCLUSIONS. 1. Immediate suturing of a divided nerve should never be neglected, as the result is eminently successful as regards restoration both of sensation and of motion. 2. Clean end-to-end suture should be secured if possi- ble. In wounds inflicted by a sharp instrument this is easily attained ; in torn wounds it is wiser not to remove
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