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TRIGEMINAL

NERVEINJURY: DIAGNOSISANDMANAGEMENT 1042-3699/92$0.00 + .20

MANAGEMENTOF PERIPHERAL
NERVEINJURIES
Basic Principles of Microneurosurgical Repair

A. Lee Dellon, MD

The management of peripheral nerve in- have permitted a coordinated approach to


juries has become increasingly sophisticated the management of peripheral nerve injuries
as our understanding of the pathophysiology that has proven effective for both the upper
of neural degeneration and the basis of and lower extremities. This systematic ap-
neural regeneration has improved. The pur- proach appeared as a monograph by Mac-
pose of this article is to focus on the surgical kinnon and Dellon in 1988.17 It is appropriate
principles related to nerve injury and repair, at this time to extend these concepts to the
forming a bridge between the early articles maxillofacial region, and the trigeminal nerve
on physiology and pathophysiology, sensory in particular.
evaluation, and electrical and radiologic di-
agnosis and the articles to follow which deal
with specific problems of individual branches PERIPHERAL VERSUS CENTRAL
of the trigeminal nerve. ~’ NERVE
The management of peripheral nerve in-
iuries has been made enormously easier by Is the trigeminal nerve a peripheral nerve?
the classification of these injuries by Seddon And does it matter? Nerves within the CNS
and Sunderland. The details of these classi- are believed, in general, not to regenerate or
fications have been reviewed recently and to regenerate poorly, whereas those of the
updated TM and are covered again in the sec- peripheral nervous system are known to re-
ond article of this issue. Sir Sidney Sunder- generate (although perhaps not as well as we
land has catalogued in encyclopedic fashion would wish). If the trigeminal nerve, being

most of the knowledge related to nerves, a cranial nerve and therefore being closely
but this work is certainly not "user friendly." related to the brain, is not a peripheral nerve,
A multiauthored text attempting to coordi- perhaps we need not consider how to recon-
nate the experience of hand surgeons (gen- struct it! If, however, the trigeminal nerve
eral, orthopedic, and plastic surgeons) ap- behaves like a peripheral nerve, then we
peared in 1980. 25 Since then, experimental have the potential to restore its function.
models for chronic nerve compression, neu- Nerves in the upper and lower extremities
roma formation, and neural regeneration, as are considered peripheral nerves, and so are
well as advances in sensibility evaluation, those of the thorax. The nerves within the

Fromthe Division of Plastic Surgery and the Departmentof NeurologicalSurgery, Johns HopkinsUniversity,
Baltimore, Maryland

ORALANDMAXILLOFACIAL
SURGERY
CLINICS OF NORTHAMERICA
VOLUME
4o NUMBER
2 ¯ MAY
1992 393
394 DELLON

brain and the spinal cord are classically con- lingual nerve that might constitute this de-
sidered part of the CNS. What are cranial gree of nerve injury. The appropriate treat-
nerves? They connect neurologic areas that ment surgically would be an external neurol-
are intracranial and extracranial, but they are ysis of the involved nerve, which involves
not all the same. In particular, the optic nerve surgically-separating the nerve from its ad-
and the olfactory nerve originate from cell herent surrounding tissues. Once separated
bodies that are considered embryologic ex- from surrounding scar, the possibility that
tensions of the brain. These nerves are sur- significant intraneural scarring maybe pres-
rounded not by supporting connective tissue ent must be considered. With microsurgical
sheaths that contain Schwann cells, but by technique, the epineurium should be opened
glial cells such as oligodendrocytes. Al- across the region of compression. If the
though the oligodendrocyte does produce neural tissue within is soft and is character-
myelin, it is immunologically distinct from ized by bands of Fontana, 23 no further intra-
that produced by Schwann cells. The glial neural dissection is indicated. Because
supporting cells of the CNSdo not appear to branches of the trigeminal nerve have as
produce the neurotrophic factors necessary many as 20 fascicles, intraneural neurolysis
to support neural regeneration. I’ 3, 13, 32 Thus, could be done at this point. 12, 20 Because there
the first and second cranial nerves are in would not have been axonal loss with this
reality part of the CNS, and blindness and degree of injury, a period of sensory recovery
anosmia, respectively, result from injury to without discomfort would be expected. The
these two nerves. In contrast, the other cra- recovery might occur almost immediately fol-
nial nerves originate from cells within the lowing the decompression of the nerve or
brain and extend as axons into tissues exter- over a period of 3 to 6 months.
nal to the CNS. These other cranial nerves With more prolonged compression, or
are surrounded by connective tissue sup- compression of a more severe degree, e.g.,
porting structures that contain Schwann higher pressure, axonal loss occurs. In the
cells, which are highly supportive of neural maxillofacial region this is most often seen
regeneration. These observations have been associated with facial fractures in which the
confirmed by the ingenious models from infraorbital nerve is directly in the fracture
Aguayo’s laboratory, where segments of a site of the zygoma or the inferior alveolar
peripheral nerve, e.g., the rat sciatic, are nerve is directly in the fracture site of the
inserted into the CNS,e.g., the spinal cord, mandible. Neural regeneration is the normal
with the result that axons from the spinal response to a nerve injury severe enough to
nerve regenerate into and along the sciatic cause axonal loss. Whenneural regeneration
nerve.2, 28 Thus, the injured trigeminal nerve is blocked or impeded, however, as it would
has the capacity for neural regeneration. be by the compressive forces of bone at a
fracture site, normal regeneration does not
occur. Abortive neural regeneration results
NERVE REGENERATION AS A in the formation of a neuroma, which may
SOURCEOF PAIN or may not be painful.
Complete or incomplete division of the
With chronic compression, the response of
nerve, of course, also results in distal degen-
the nerve is increased fibrosis of its connec-
eration of the nerve, as described by Waller
tive tissue support structures, such as the
in 1850.33 If the two ends of the divided nerve
epineurium and the perineurium, and de-
myelination of individual nerve fibers. 18 Ex- lie in close proximity, as they might within
amples of this type of nerve problem in the the alveolar canal, where the division might
maxillofacial region are uncommon, in gen- have occurred during a sagittal split osteot-
eral, with the exception of facial nerve com- omy, the normal process of neural regener-
pression within the temporal bone, i.e., Bell’s ation may result in the correct direction of
palsy, and are rare for the trigeminal nerve proximal axonal sprouts into the distal por-
in particular. Conceivably, following facial tion of the nerve. Almost. always, however,
trauma there may be blunt or crush type a percentage of the sprouts fail to be directed
damage to the infraorbital nerve or the men- appropriately and develop into a "suture
tal nerve, or following a radical neck dissec- line" or neuroma-in-continuity. As just sug-
tion scarring or electrocautery injury to the gested, this may well be the result even if a
MANAGEMENT
OF PERIPHERAL
NERVEINJURIES 395

microsurgical repair of the divided nerve is distal tissue to reinnervate, treatment of pain
done. This neuroma, again, may or may not is best achieved by neuroma resection and
be painful. Furthermore, the process of implantation of the proximal end of the nerve
neural regeneration implies the distal pro- into an innervated muscle or into the med-
gression of axonal sprouts over time. This ullary cavity of bone.14 In membranousbones
often is perceived by the patient as a painful having a virtually nonexistent medullary cav-
experience, even though its duration is finite, ity, an alternative is to place the proximal
on the order of 3 to 6 months. If neural end of the injured nerve into an adjacent
function appears to be recovering, but signif- sinus, i.e., frontal sinus for the supraorbital
icant pain persists at the site of injury, neu- nerve, maxillary sinus for the infraorbital
rolysis of the nerve at this site may be indi- nerve.
cated. If neural regeneration appears to be Recently, Gregg has reported the results of
poor and the pain is significant, surgical his treatment of painful neuromas of the
treatment should proceed as discussed below trigeminal nerve by a microsurgical tech-
for the painful neuroma. nique, which appears to have been a combi-
nation of neurolysis, neuroma resection, and
nerve repair or graft. He reported relief of
TREATMENT OF PAINFUL pain in about 60%of his patients whose pain
NEUROMAS was characterized by hyperalgesia or hyper-
pathia. ~° If a patient refuses to have autoge-
Documentation of maxillofacial pain due nous nerve harvested for the nerve graft
to neuromas of the trigeminal nerve exists donor tissue, or in the case of an iatrogenic
and is usually found in the setting of retained injury in which any additional damage is
root tips following dental extraction, frac- minimized, a nerve conduit of an appropriate
tures, or direct surgical (i.e., iatrogenic) in- alloplastic material is a reasonable alterna-
jury, which includes placement of plates, tive. 6 Crawley and Dellon have reported such
screws, and osteointegrative devices. 11, 26 a case for a painful neuroma of the inferior
The treatment of the painful neuroma has alveolar nerve. 4 The use of alloplastic mate-
received a great deal of attention, especially rials in the maxillofacial region is discussed
in the extremities. An algorithm to approach in detail in another article.
this problem has been developed based upon
the observations that painful neuromas (1)
most often appear in areas where neural NERVE REPAIR AND NERVE
regeneration is subjected to tension, move- GRAFTING
ment, and the influence of local neurotrophic
factors, (2) have axonal regeneration Nerve repair should not be mysterious.
thwarted by some mechanical problem, e.g., The history of nerve reconstruction is fasci-
technical misalignment of the two ends of nating, and several accounts are worth read-
the nerve, fracture site compression, or metal ing.17, 24, 29 The early physicians, such as Hip-
plate or screw interposition, and (3) are influ- pocrates, did not distinguish nerves from
enced by the microenvironment into which tendons. This distinction was made by Galen
they regenerate, i.e., medullary cavity of in the second century A.D. Nerve repair was
bone, innervated muscle, or distal nerve with at first not attempted because nerve regen-
intact end-organs.7’ 8, 19 eration was not considered a possibility. Par-
If a distal nerve exists, and especially if tial nerve injury was believed to cause con-
appropriate distal target end-organs such as vulsions, and completing the nerve division
the tongue, lower lip, or cheek skin are was the recommended course of action.
present, the recommended surgical treat- When attempts to suture a nerve were be-
ment is excision of the neuroma, whether it gun, all types of suture material were util-
be end bulb, lateral, in-continuity, or some ized, including thread prepared by boiling
other shape or appearance, and reconstruc- the tendon from a turtle’s leg and then peel-
tion of the nerve gap. The usual technique ing off strands for suturing. Once it became
for nerve gap reconstruction is the interpo- accepted, in the nineteenth century, that
sition interfascicular nerve graft as described nerve repair was possible, the controversy
by Millesi; the technical details are consid- centered on the source of neural regenera-
ered below. In the absence of appropriate tion: Did neural regeneration come from the
396 DELLON

Figure1. Thetermtrunk graft referred to the useof a large diameterdonornerveto reconstructa nervegap. Because
of the large diameter,the revascularization
of the centerof the graft waspoor, leadingto collagenizationandimpeded
neuralregeneration.

Figure2. Thetermautograft refers to the donornervecomingfromthe samehost, andis in contrastto homograft,in


whichthe donoris anothermember of the samespecies, andxenograft, in whichthe donoris a memberof another
species.Thesetermsdonot refer to the size of the graft or to the technique
of placingthe graft.
MANAGEMENT
OF PERIPHERAL
NERVEINJURIES 397

Figure 3. Thetermcablegraftrefersto thetechniquein which


multiple
strandsof smaller
cutaneous
nervearewrapped
orbundled orperhapsgluedintoa thickercable-like
structure.
Thecablegrafthasa potential
for poor
revascutarization
of its centralarea,andis notrecommended.

neuron in the spinal cord or dorsal ganglion Vessels are anastomosed; nerves are repaired
or did regeneration occur from individual or reconstructed. In parts of the body in
cells, parts of the distal nerve in the periph- which the nerves are larger than they are in
ery? The first nerve graft, done in 1869 the head and neck region, there are appro-
Philipeaux and Vulpian, was done in the priate concerns with the number of fascicles
maxillofacial region and involved the trigem- present. If a peripheral nerve has several
inal nerve! Their operation was the transfer large, identifiable fascicles, these are each
of a segment of a dog’s lingual nerve into surrounded by perineurium and separated
that dog’s hypoglossal nerve. 27 Their intent from each other with interfascicular or inter-
was to determine if the piece of sensory nerve nal epineurium. External or extrafascicular
would reinnervate the tongue muscle, not by epineurium surrounds the entire group of
serving as a conduit or passive bridging ma- fascicles. Even though multiple small fasci-
terial but by having the cells within it connect cles can be identified in, for example, the
to the proximal and distal segments of the inferior alveolar nerve, 31 all are sensory and
motor nerve. Thus Vulpian, who was a pre- 5only an epineurial repair is required.
eminent pathologist in Paris, was a reticular- A nerve graft requires a nerve repair at
~
ist and did not erhSrac6 tl~6 neuron ~0nCept. each end of the graft. The poor prognosis of
The evolution of our current concepts of nerve grafting following World War II came
nerve repair and regeneration has been re- from the use of trunk grafts (Fig. 1). Unfor-
viewed recently 16 and strongly supports the tunately, the nomenclature for grafts has
approach to tension-free nerve repair, as pi- become confused. Grafts taken from an in-
oneered by Hano Millesi. Millesi’s own re- dividual and placed into that same individual
view of his efforts to demonstrate that ten- are autografts (Fig. 2), regardless of howthese
sion at the nerve suture line produces inferior grafts are arranged or what size they are. In
results by inducing increased collagen for- the early nerve grafting experience, grafts
marion from the epineurial and perineurial were often taken from other individuals (ho-
fibroblasts and his courageous introduction mografts is the appropriate term for these),
of interposition interfascicular grafting into again regardless of how they were used or
21
clinical practice are worth reading. in what size, with the term denoting only
The nomenclature that is most appropriate the biologic source of the graft. A xenograft is
must be emphasized at this point and rep- a graft from a different species placed into a
resents the recommendations of the Interna- human. Clearly immunologic rejection ac-
2~
tional Microsurgery Society (see Glossary). counted for these nerve graft failures. The
398 DELLON

VIENNA ~

NERVE GRAFT
Figure4. Thepreferredgraftingtechniquefor a gapin a multifascicular
nerveis termed
aninterpositioninterfascicular
nervegraft, as described
by Hano Millesiof Vienna.

trunk grafts were nerve grafts of a large cross- that placing thin cutaneous nerve segments,
sectional area, such as an ulnar nerve being and multiple ones if necessary, across a de-
used to graft a median nerve defect. It is now fect in the nerve not only relieves tension at
clear that these grafts failed owing to insuf- the repair site but also ensures good vascu-
ficient blood supply to the inside portions of larization of the grafts if they are not bundled
the donor nerves; neural regeneration failed together. Thus the present preferred term is
because it could not proceed through the an interposition interfascicular nerve graft, in
ischemic, collagenized centers of these large which multiple strands are usually used (Fig.
trunk grafts. Some donor nerves were ob- 4). The principles of nerve reconstruction are
tained from thinner cutaneous nerves, such illustrated with two upper extremity exam-
as the sural, but these were woven or ples (Figs. 5, 6, and 7).
wrapped around each other to form a "cable"
(Fig. 3). Cable grafting was not successful for
reasons quite similar to-those just discussed; RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
the graft segments in the center of the cable TRIGEMINAL NERVE
were not easily revascularized from the recip- RECONSTRUCTION(APPENDIX)
ient bed.
Because the early to mid-twentieth century Primary repair of a nerve injury should be
nerve grafting experience was not good, done whenever possible. If the ends of the
nerve reconstructions were accomplished by nerve have been sharply divided and there
widely dissecting the two ends of the dam- is no loss of neural tissue, a direct repair is
aged nerve, flexing joints) even shortening indicated. Because the trigeminal nerve
bone length if necessary, toward the goal of branches are usually polyfascicular and
bringing the two ends of the nerve together. purely sensory, a microsurgical epineurial
Gradually, in the postoperative period, the suture technique is best. Even if there are
extremity was mobilized, with scar ultimately multiple fascicles, the dissection required to
being introduced as tension was created at separate these may well cause more scarring
the suture line. ’Controversy centered on than it is worth. Usually two 8-0 or 9-0 nylon
whether to do a primary or a secondary nerve sutures are used, or a few more if it is
repair. To Millesi goes the credit for proving necessary to maintain orientation.
MANAGEMENT
OF PERIPHERALNERVEINJURIES 399

Fi-g~J~e8.-A~-Ee~t-l~a~i~
6f a 3S:y6a~f-01d~d~a5
W567 y~.r~b~f6re,S~ustaide~]
a d~vision 5f theulnardi~it&ldeR,e to the
thumbwhencut in the palmwithanoysterknife. Shewasrepaired3 weeks after the injury, andthesurgeon resected
theendsof thenerveandbelievedhecouldapproximate themwithout"undue"tension.B, Seven yearslater, shehas
painat therepairsite that radiatesinto herthumb,andhasnofunctionalsensory recovery at theulnartip of herthumb.
C, Explorationrevealsa neuroma-in-continuity.D, Proximalanddistal resectionis requireduntil scar-freenerveis
encountered, hereleavinga gapof 2.5 cmto bereconstructed whenthethumb is extended. E, Theanteriorbranch of
the medialantebrachial cutaneous nerveis chosen as the nervegraft donor.Theposteriorbranch,whichsupplies
sensationto theelbow,is nottaken.F, A close-up viewof thenervegraft in placeusingtwo8-0nylonsuturesat each
nervejuncture.

If the woundis grossly contaminated or if stabilization has occurred. Blunt, contusive,


the mechanismof injury is such that scarring or avulsive injuries, such as gunshots or
of the proximal and distal ends over the next motor vehicle accidents, may create this ex-
few weeks is anticipated, then the ends of tended nerve injury. If it is unclear whether
the nerve should be tagged or approximated the nerve is just bruised or will undergo
to each other with 3-0 nylon. One should progressive collagenization, a nerve repair
plan to return for a delayed nerve repair, or may be done primarily, but the patient and
preferrably a nerve graft, when soft tissue family must be informed that if signs of
400 DELLON

Figure6. A 26-year-old woman hadher distal right forearmexplored becauseof pain, thought to be ulnar nerve
compression. Shehadhada childhoodinjury in that area, thoughtto havebeenof noconsequence. Thefirst exploration
revealedwhatthe surgeontook to be a neuraltumorwithin the ulnar nerve.A, Thedistal forearmincision is visible,
andthe sensibility evaluationdemonstrated nofunctional sensationin her ulnar nervedistribution. B, Therewaswasting
of her ulnar innervatedintrinsic muscles,andherethe clawingis noted.C, Explorationdemonstrated the large neuroma-
in-continuity related to the childhoodinjury to her ulnar nerve.Distally, the ulnar artery andthe motorandsensory
fascicles of the ulnar nervehavebeenidentified. Proximally,the dorsal cutaneous branchof the ulnar nervehas been
identified, andit is intact. Theproximalulnar motorandsensory fascicles havebeenidentified topographicallyto permit
the correctpositioningof the interpositionnervegrafts. D, Harvestinga longlengthof the medialantebrachial cutaneous
nervewith its multiple anterior branches.E, Theresectedneuroma leavesa gapof 6 cmin the nerveto bereconstructed
by the nervegraft onthe gauze.F, Themultipleinterfascicularinterpositionnervegrafts in place.
MANAGEMENT
OF PERIPHERAL
NERVEINJURIES 401

Figure7. ]’hesame patient


asin Figure
6, i~viththe_technique
of thegraftin more
detail.A,_Thecondition
of thedistal
ulnarnerve fascicles--soft,
without
scarringandappropriate
for grafting.
B,Similarappearance
of theproximal
fascicles.
C, Thedistalnerve juncture
sites.D,Theproximalnervejuncture
sites.E, Atjust4 months
afterthegrafting,theTinel
is advancingwell, already
reachingthepalm.

neural regeneration do not occur, a second- The most appropriate source of donor
ary nerve reconstruction with a graft will be nerves for the maxillofacial region may not
necessary to restore function. be the head and neck! Traditionally, branches
In the setting of nerve injury that is not of the cervical plexus have been used, and
acute, such as following dental extraction or these, such as the greater auricular nerve,
fracture plating, the surgical planning must are appropriate in length and in diameter.
be to replace the damaged segment of nerve The disadvantage of the cervical plexus is a
with a graft. Too often failure to provide a scar in what may be thought by the patient
tension-free reconstruction by means of a to be a cosmetically unacceptable site. Fur--
graft is the reason for failure to recover func- thermore, an anesthetic ear lobe may be
tion; it is not the fault of the nerve repair, disturbing to someone wearing earings. As
but rather the choice of an inappropriate noted in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the forearm,
technique for the reconstruction. and especially the anterior branch of the
402 DELLON

medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, can 5. Dellon AL: Discussion of "The relationship between
leave an acceptable donor site scar and often structural features of nerve trunk and suture meth-
ods" by ZhongS, et al. J Reconstr Microsurg 3:91,
leaves very little donor site sensory disability. 1987
Although the sural nerve is probably the 6. Dellon AL, MackinnonSE: An alternative to the
most commonly used donor nerve source classic nerve graft for the management of the short
worldwide, it has the disadvantage of leaving nerve gap. Plast Reconstr Surg 82:849, 1988
a disfiguring scar and the potential for a 7. Dellon AL, MackinnonSE: Treatment of the painful
neuroma by neuroma resection and muscle implan-
painful neuroma near a shoe top region. The tation. Plast ReconstrSurg 77:427, 1986
sural nerve is certainly a justifiable donor site 8. Dellon AL, MackinnonSE, Pestronk A: Implantation
if a great deal of nerve is required in the of sensory nerve into muscle: Preliminary clinical
maxillofacial region, such as for a cross-facial and experimental observations on neuroma forma-
tion. AnnPlast Surg 12:30, 1984
nerve graft for facial palsy. 9. Dellon ES, Dellon AL:Thefirst nerve graft, Vulpian,
and the 19th century neural regeneration contro-
versy. J HandSurg, in press, 1992
SUMMARY 10. Gregg JM: Studies of traumatic neuralgia in the
maxillofacial region. J Oral MaxillofacSurg 48:135,
1990
This article presents a brief overview of the 11. Gregg JM: Studies of traumatic neuralgias in the
principles of management of peripheral maxillofacial region: Surgical pathology and neural
nerve injuries. The connective tissue and mechanisms.J Oral Maxillofac Surg 48:228, 1990
axonal response to chronic compression may 12. Jiranec W, Seiler WAIV, Dellon AL: Teaching the
techniquefor microsurgical intraneural neurolysis. J
result in abnormal and painful sensory recov- Reconstr Microsurg3:137, 1987
ery. In more severe nerve compression or in 13. Longo FM, Manthorpe M, Skaper SD, et ah Neuron-
complete or incomplete nerve division, otrophic activities accumulatein vivo within silicone
neural degeneration and regeneration may nerve regeneration chambers. Brain Res 261:109,
occur. Misdirected axonal sprouts may de- 1983
14. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL: Algorithm for manage-
velop into neuromas, which may or may not ment of painful neuroma. Cont Orthop 13:15, 1986
be painful. Painful compression injuries 15. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL: Classification of nerve
without neuroma formation can be managed injuries as the basis for treatment. In Mackinnon SE,
generally with extraneural and intraneural Dellon AL(eds): Surgery of the Peripheral Nerve.
NewYork, Thieme, 1988, pp 35-39
dissection as dictated by the severity of con- 16. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL: Nerve repair and nerve
nective tissue scarring. Painful neuromas are grafting. In MackinnonSE, Dellon AL(eds): Surgery
treated by excision with either reconstruction of the Peripheral Nerve. NewYork, Thieme, 1988,
of the nerve gap or implantation of the prox- pp 89-127
17. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL: Surgery of the Peripheral
imal end of the nerve into an innervated Nerve. NewYork, Thieme, 1988
muscle, medullary cavity of bone, or sinus. 18. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL, Hudson AR, Hunter DA:
Finally, nerve repairs must be tension free. A primate model for chronic nerve compression. J
Reconstr Microsurg1:185, 1985
If necessary, an interpositional interfascicular 19. MackinnonSE, Dellon AL, HudsonAR, Hunter DA:
graft should be used to achieve a tension- Alteration of neuromaformation by manipulation of
free repair. neural enviro~a~ent. Pla_st~ Reconstr Surg 76:345,
1985
20. MackinnonSE, O’Brien JP, Dellon AL, et al: An
assessmentof the effects of internal neurolysis on a
References chronically compressedrat sciatic nerve. Plast
constr Surg 81:251, 1988
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4. Crawley WA,Dellon AL: Inferior alveolar nerve 26. Peszkowski MJ, Larsson A: Extraosseous and in-
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in press, 1992 48:963, 1990
MANAGEMENT
OF PERIPHERAL NERVEINJURIES 403

27. Philipeaux JM, Vulpian A: Note sur des essais de 30. Sunderland S: Nerve and Nerve Injuries, ed 2.
greffe d’un troncon du nerf lingual entre les deux Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, 1978
bouts du nerf hypoglosse, apres excision d’un seg- 31. Svane TJ, Wolford LM,MilamSB, Bass RK: Fascic-
ment de ce dernier nerf. Arch Phys NormPathol ular characteristics of the humaninferior alveolar
3:618, 1870 nerve. J Oral MaxillofacSurg 44:431, 1986
28. Richardson PM, Issa VMK,Aguayo AJ: Regenera- 32. ThoenenH, Edgar D: Neurotrophic factors. Science
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13:165, 1984 33. Waller AV: Experiments on the glossopharyngeal
29. Snyder CC: The history of nerve repair. In OmerGE and hypoglossal nerves of the frog and observations
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Nerve Problems. Philadelphia, WBSaunders, 1980, fibres. Phil Trans R Soc London140:423, 1850
pp 353-364

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A. Lee Dellon, MD
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