Post-traumatic Neuropathy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Post-traumatic neuropathy

Pathology such as neuropathy is quite common. It is manifested by severe nerve damage. In post-traumatic neuropathy, injury occurs due to cuts, bruises, and fractures. Despite the fact that the nerve itself was not damaged as a result of direct exposure, cicatricial processes occur in the area of wound healing, which compress the nerves. As a rule, this pathology is most often characterized for the elbow, median and radial nerves.

In the canal itself, the nerve can be squeezed directly by the thickened wall of the canal, which often occurs against the background of arthrosis of the bone wall of the canal, deforming arthrosis of the muscles or after a fracture. This disorder is characterized by symptoms such as muscle atrophy, numbness, or decreased sensation. Many patients sometimes complain of very unpleasant sensations in the fingers, which usually intensify at night. Also, the grip strength of the hand decreases, paresthesia, hyperesthesia change, and a noticeable swelling of the hand is noted.

First of all, for a diagnosis, a visual examination will be required to identify areas of increased or decreased sensitivity. It is also necessary to determine the presence of Tinel's syndrome and violations of the existing discriminatory sensitivity, which is the ability to distinguish and perceive the same stimuli when applied to the skin.

In addition, during the examination, it is necessary to identify muscle atrophy or increased numbness during flexion. It should be noted that more often such motor disorders appear somewhat later in sensory disorders. In the future, after the first examination and collection of the necessary history, the necessary instrumental examination follows. The most effective method in modern diagnostics is electroneuromyography, which determines the exact passage of the impulse along the nerve.

In addition, ultrasonography and ultrasound examination are performed in most cases for clear visualization. The best way to diagnose is a variant of magnetic resonance imaging, which helps to get a complete picture of the size, type and location of the specific localization of the disorder. Then, based on the data obtained, the specialist, if necessary, selects the type of necessary surgical treatment for post-traumatic neuropathy.

How to get rid of post-traumatic neuropathy?

It has been proven that the successful treatment of the presented disorder directly depends on the duration and type of damage. Significant damage to a specific nerve trunk on any forearm (radial, ulnar and median nerves) should be treated as soon as possible by modern restoration of anatomical integrity. In this case, it is shown, first of all, the performance of neurolysis, which is a simple surgical operation aimed only at releasing a certain nerve from strong compression by scar tissue.

It should be noted that it is necessary to contact specialists with post-traumatic neuropathy as soon as possible, so that the whole process of treatment is easy and there are a minimum of complications. When more than two months have passed since the beginning of the development of the existing lesion, then the specific surgical intervention is more voluminous.

The likelihood of developing dangerous neurogenic contracture of the hand depends directly on the period of time elapsed after the injury. Irreversible changes occur, due to which the nerve practically ceases to correctly innervate certain muscles. In this case, various orthopedic operations are prescribed, in which the necessary transposition of tendons and muscles is performed. Rapid restoration of the lost innervation of the desired muscles is also a fairly popular method of surgical intervention.

Additional treatment in a certain postoperative period includes immobilization of the operated limb in the correct physiological position. In addition, it is sometimes advisable to fix in a forced position, when the tension of the nerve is the least.

Regardless of the cause of the lesion, during the treatment of post-traumatic neuropathy, the necessary drug therapy is also used. In addition, a suitable complex of vitamin preparations is prescribed. Treatment is always accompanied by immobilization of a specific operated limb. This period is up to three weeks, so that scars in the operated area appear minimally. Along with this, immobilization is also important to reduce the risk of possible rupture of sutures in the further postoperative period.

Adequate physical therapy is also needed. Its purpose is to prevent the dangerous development of contractures in the operated limb. Physiotherapy is also indicated, which is mainly aimed at quickly reducing the formation of existing scar tissue.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".