Nerve merging repair in the replantation of a severed limb with defects in multiple nerves: five cases and long-term follow-up

Table 2 Patients’ functional assessment during follow-up visits

	Case 1	Case 2	Case 3	Case 4	Case 5
Duration of follow–up (months)	76	72	80	51	56
Nerve/Sensory recovery in absolute innervation area	MN/S2	MN/S3+	MN/S3+	UN/S2	UN/S2
Nerve/Sensory recovery in absolute innervation area	RN/S2	UN/S2	UN/S3	MN/S2	MN/S3
Nerve/Atrophy of absolute innervating muscles	MN/mild	MN/mild	MN/mild	UN/moderate	UN/mild
Nerve/Atrophy of absolute innervating muscles	RN/moderate	UN/mild	UN/mild	MN/moderate	MN/moderate
Flexor muscle strength of elbow	M4	M4	M5	M4	M4
Extensor muscle strength of elbow	M4	M5	M5	M3	M4
Flexor muscle strength of carpi	M4	M4	M4	M3	M3
Extensor muscle strength of carpi	M2	M3	M4	M3	M4
Flexor muscle strength of fingers	M3	M1	M4	M3	M3
Extensor muscle strength of fingers	M1	M1	M4	M2	M3
Ape hand deformity	positive	negative	negative	positive	positive
Ulnar claw	positive	positive	positive	positive	negative
Neuroma with pain	No	No	No	No	No
DASH score	54	48	38	62	59

M0: no muscle contraction; M1: muscle fibrillation or contraction; M2: full-range motion, no gravity resistance; M3: capable of active motion of gravity resistance; M4: capable of active motion of gravity resistance and light obstruction resistance; M5: normal muscle strength. S0: sensory loss in the innervation region; S1: deep tactile sensation in the innervation area, recovery of pain sensation; S2: superficial tactile sensation in the innervation region, partial recovery of pain sensation; S3: recovery of tactile sensation and pain sensation in the innervation region, no hyperalgesia, S2PD > 15 mm, M2PD > 7 mm; S3+: recovery of sensation to S3 level and exhibiting a certain degree of two-point discrimination, S2PD: 7–15 mm, M2PD: 4–7 mm; S4: complete recovery of sensation, S2PD: 2–6 mm, M2PD: 2–3 mm

ISSN: 1471-2482