Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Viet-Nam War.

Cho, Sung Ok

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1973;2(1): 83-88.

Department of Neurosurgery, Chungnam University Hospital, Daejun, Korea.

ABSTRACT

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 in shell fragment 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 or pain in 5 cases and thoracic cordotomy relieved the pain in 3 patients who were not cured properly by the sympathectomies.