What Is A Nerve Graft?
A nerve graft is a piece of “expendable” nerve from another part of the body which is transplanted to the damaged nerve site creating a bridge. This allows for the axons to grow through or around the damaged region so that they can find their way back to their destination.Nerve grafts are taken from many locations. For example, the sural nerve, a very long nerve found in the back of the leg that provides feeling to the side of the foot, makes an excellent bridge. Other options are using nerves that provide feeling on the forearm by the elbow or even behind the ear. When these nerves are taken, there is no loss of movement and only a spot of numbness occurs. This small area of numbness, over time, becomes less noticeable.
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When a nerve is severely injured, the axons are divided. The severed axons that maintain their connections to the spinal cord will sprout regenerating nerve units that will look for an appropriate nerve pathway to regrow the distal nerve in order to find muscle or skin to connect to.
If they are able to make the journey to an appropriate destination — motor nerve to muscle or sensory nerve to skin – then recovery of muscle function and skin sensation will occur.
However, if there is an impediment to that regrowth, then surgery is required to restore an effective pathway.
Such an impediment is a severed nerve or a nerve that is damaged so badly that the scar within the nerve is too thick for an axon to grow across. In some situations where a nerve has been cut (a 5th degree injury or neurotmesis), the nerve ends can be sewn back together microsurgically.
When the area is more extensive or over a length of nerve, a nerve graft must be used to bridge that gap.
In determining whether a nerve graft is the best option for you, you may undergo an MRI, an ultrasound and/or neurophysiological (EMG) testing at the Paralysis Center. The Paralysis Center’s surgeons select procedures, such as nerve decompressions, nerve grafts, or nerve transfers based on your condition and which technique or techniques offer you the best chance of recovery.
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I just recovered the ability to dress myself – that was a big thing! I can get my own shirt on, can get my hands above my head – that was huge for me, and really changed my whole outlook.Davis – Patient
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