A clinical review on 144 cases of peripheral nerve injuries evacuated from Viet-Nam War, between Sept, 1965 and Sept, 1968 was performed, (period) Statistical studies showed that the ulnar, median, peroneal, radial, brachial plexus and sciatic nerves, respectively, were injured most frequently+ Peripheral nerve injuries involved in shell fragement wounds accounted for 59% and in bullet wounds 38.9%.
The operative findings of peripheral nerve injuries were as follows: adhesion accounted for 33.8%, partial neuroma with adhesion for 28.6%, complete division or neuroma 29.9% and no evident finding for 7.8%.
In this-series no attempt of primary suture was made. Secondary-surgical treatment´ was, performed in 71 cases and ;approximately 90%of these were carried out in 5 months. 34 cases of neurolysis, 28 cases of end to end neurorrhaphy and 9 cases of partial neurorrhaphy were done.
Various degree of severe pain or typical causalgia was seen in 8 -cases out of 144 patients. Lumbar or thoracic sympathectomy had successfully got ride of pain in 5 cases and thoracic cordotomy relieved the pain in 3 patients who were not cured properly by the sympathectomies.
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