Live Date:
September 13, 2021
7:15 PM CST

Nerve injuries are common upper extremity injuries facing Orthopaedic Surgeons, Hand Surgeons, and Plastic Surgeons. However, these injuries can be particularly challenging and controversial in the setting of a nerve injury with a gap not amenable to primary repair. Fortunately, a number of surgical options exist to manage nerve gaps but various patient, anatomic, and clinical variables need to be considered in deciding the optimal surgical strategy and post-surgical therapy. Our expert faculty will review the various surgical options including nerve autografts, allografts, conduits, and nerve transfers – with a particular focus on evidenced-based indications, surgical techniques, pearls and pitfalls, and post-surgical rehabilitation strategies. Moreover, strategies for nerve gaps for both digital nerves and mixed peripheral nerve will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

• To understand the surgical indications and techniques for nerve conduits use in traumatic nerve gap management.
• To understand the surgical indications and techniques for nerve autograft use in traumatic nerve gap management.
• To understand the surgical indications and techniques for nerve allograft use in traumatic nerve gap management.
• To understand the surgical indications and techniques for nerve transfers in traumatic nerve gap management.
• To understand post-operative rehabilitation strategies after nerve reconstruction.