Application of free temporoparietal fascial flap for recurrent neural adhesion of superficial radial nerve—A case report

Because of its anatomical location, the superficial radial nerve is vulnerable to trauma as well as injury during various surgical procedures. Once the nerve adheres to surrounding scar tissue, radiating pain often occurs due to nerve traction caused by loss of smooth gliding. Since it has been reported that the success rate with neurolysis only is lower, additional preventive procedures for recurrent neural readhesion are recommended. In the current report, we describe our experience performing neurolysis followed by nerve coverage using a free temporoparietal fascial flap for recurrent neural adhesion of the superficial radial nerve. A 45‐year‐old male complained of motion pain of the left wrist and thumb joints caused by recurrent neural adhesion of the superficial radial nerve after a chain saw trauma and following multiple reconstructive procedures. The radiating pain completely disappeared after neurolysis performed by a previous surgeon; however, it recurred 4 weeks later. Four months after the previous neurolysis the patient underwent external neurolysis and covering of the nerve with a free temporoparietal fascial flap to prevent neural readhesion because local soft tissue could not be used due to the massive scar tissues on the forearm. One year after the secondary neurolysis, the symptoms of radiating pain during wrist and thumb motion were drastically improved. A free adipofascial flap such as a temporoparietal flap may be an option for prevention of neural readhesion after neurolysis of the superficial radial nerve in cases where a local flap cannot be used on the forearm. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:489–493, 2015.