The epidermiological analysis of the upper extremity peripheral nerve injuries

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 1997;2(2):295-303.
Published online January 1, 1997.

Yong Jin Kim,Jin Chul Park

상지의 말초신경 손상 환자에 대한 역학적 분석

김용진,박진철

Abstract

This paper reports an epidermiological study of 216 patients with 272 peripheial nerve injuries who were treated for upper extremity trauma at Pusan ChoonHae Hospital during last 4 years, between October 1993 and September 1997. The most frequently injured nerves were, in decreasing order, the digital nerves (57.0%), followed by ulnar (15.8%), median (13.2%), superficial radial nerves (12.5%). Among the proper digital nerves, index radial (20.7%), thumb ulnar (16.4%), little ulnar (15.0%) digital nerves were frequently injured. The majority of the cases (72.2%) were injured by laceration from sharp objects, such as glass or knife. 45 out of 216 patients (20.8%) were injured in a heavy alcohol drunken state, 191 out of 216 patients (88.4%) were visit our clinic within 24 nours from injury. 85 out of 216 patients (39.4%) were transferred from other hospital. The principle of management of the nerve injuries in our clinic was by primary surgical exploration and suture of divided nerves. 232 out of 272 peripheral nerves (85.3%) were treated by primary nerve suture.