Peripheral nerve surgery

• Nerve compression syndromes: Including carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve in the hand), ulnar sulcus syndrome (ulnar nerve in the elbow), rarer compression syndromes (e.g. Loge du Guyon syndrome in the hand, tarsal tunnel syndrome in the foot)
• Tumours of the peripheral nerves: e.g. neurinomas, neurofibromas, malignant nerve sheath tumours
• Traumatic nerve injuries: e.g. severing, crushing
• Diagnostic nerve biopsies (usually of the sural nerve in the foot) for unclear neurological conditions

   

• Short operations (decompressions, nerve biopsies) on the hand, foot and elbow are generally performed using open microsurgery, usually under local anaesthesia, but rarely also under plexus anaesthesia or general anaesthesia.
• Removal of nerve tumours or nerve sutures after an accident are usually performed using open microsurgery under general anaesthetic.

Most operations on the peripheral nervous system are only short (< 60 minutes), are performed under local anaesthetic and can usually be carried out on an outpatient basis.

If a general anaesthetic is required due to pre-existing conditions, blood clotting disorders or the patient's preference, the operation is usually followed by a short inpatient stay of a few days. Physiotherapy may be started during this time.

Your GP can usually arrange for you to have further checks on your wound and, if necessary, for stitches to be removed (after about seven to ten days).