Predictors of Surgical Outcomes of Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Children: An Institutional Experience

Aim: This study was undertaken to address the epidemiological characteristics, operative details, and surgical outcome of peripheral nerve injuries in children treated in a tertiary hospital in India (NIMHANS, Bangalore). Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of epidemiology, operative findings, and surgical outcomes over the period of 2000-2016. Our series includes 102 children with peripheral nerve injuries of various causes. Results: Intramuscular injections were the most common cause (52.9%), followed by entrapment (15.6%). The most common nerve involved was the sciatic nerve (54.9%), followed by the common peroneal nerve (13.7%), the ulnar nerve (10.8%), and the radial nerve (10.8%). Perineural adhesion was the most common intraoperative finding (74.5%), followed by a neuroma in continuity (14.7%) and gap (10.8%). Most of the children with peripheral adhesion underwent external and internal neurolysis (75.5%). Follow-up was available for 67 children. The median follow-up period was 7 months (range 3-36). The outcome was assessed according to MRC grading. Favorable functional improvement was noted in 76.1% of the children. Age less than 10 years (p = 0. 06), injury before 6 months (p = 0.03), and MRC motor grade (