Original scientific paper

The Epidemiology of Forearm Nerve Injuries – A Retrospective Study

Lukas Rasulić ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Vladimir Puzović ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Experimental and Applied Physiology with Sports Medicine, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Krešimir Rotim ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Milan Jovanović ; Clinical Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Miroslav Samardžić ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Bojana Živković ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Andrija Savić ; Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and etiologic factors of forearm nerve injuries. This retrospective survey included all patients treated surgically in Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. All relevant data were collected from medical records. Statistical procedures were done using the PASW 18 statistical package. Our study included 104 patients that underwent surgery after forearm nerve injury. The majority of admitted patients were male (n=84; 80.8%) and only 20 (19.2%) were female. Ulnar nerve injury predominated with 70 cases, followed by median nerve with 54 (51.9%) cases and radial nerve with only 5 cases. Transection was the dominant mechanism of injury and it occurred in 84.6% of cases. Injury by a sharp object was the most frequent etiologic factor and it occurred in 62 (59.6%) patients, while traffic accident and gunshot injuries were the least common etiologic factor of forearm nerve injury, occurring in 7 (6.7%) and 6 (5.8%) cases, respectively. Associated injuries of muscles and tendons, bones and blood vessels occurred in 20 (19.2%), 16 (15.4%) and 15 (14.4%) patients, respectively. The etiology and mechanism of peripheral nerve injury are of great importance when choosing the right course of treatment in each individual patient because timing and type of treatment are closely related to these factors.

Keywords

Forearm injuries – epidemiology; Median nerve – injury; Radial nerve – injury; Ulnar nerve – injury

Hrčak ID:

141580

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/141580

Publication date:

1.3.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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