- Nerve Tumors
- Nerve surgery is required for benign tumors from the nerve sheath (Schwannomas or Neurofibromas), benign fat tissue tumors (Lipomas), Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors, Metastasis and infiltrative tumors involving nerves.
- Nerve Injuries
- Nerve injury causes pain, weakness, and numbness in the part of the body they supply. Although most of the nerve injuries recovery spontaneously, others require surgical intervention and repair
- Myopathy and Neuropathy
- Nerve surgery is required for some forms of myopathies (muscle weakness) and Neuropathies (nervous weakness) resulting from unexplainable causes.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery: The procedures
The procedure for conducting a peripheral nerve surgery depends upon the underlying medical condition. Different techniques and procedures are used.
- Nerve decompression surgery:
- External Neurolysis: Nerves in our body tend to cross across muscles and bones and occasionally tend to get trapped due to scarring or fibrosis, causing pain due to nerve irritation, when the limb is moved. The procedure involves the removal of the scar tissue formed around the nerve without entering the nerve.
- Internal Neurolysis: The procedure is used when there is internal scarring and swelling in the nerve tissue. In such cases the outer sheath covering the nerve is opened and the scar tissue inside is removed to reduce pain and irritation.
There are the two basic techniques of conducting decompression surgery. The first one is open nerve release, which involves decompressing the nerve tissue through an incision in the skin. The second technique is an endoscopic method, where a tube containing a camera is passed, through a small incision into the affected area and the compression assessed. The procedure of decompression is then conducted. The latter procedure has an advantage of reducing the recovery time and allowing the patient to return back to work at the earliest.
- Surgery for Nerve Injuries
- Nerve Repair: A procedure that involves re-attaching the two ends of the torn nerve with fine sutures with the help of a microscope. This is possible only when there is no nerve tissue lost as a result of the injury
- Nerve Grafting: A procedure, which involves the use of a graft (most often used is the sural nerve from behind the calf). The graft is attached to the injured nerve in the same way as done in the nerve repair procedure. The patient may suffer from temporary numbness in the calf region, which usually resolves after 6-8 months
- Conduit Nerve Repair: When the gap is less than 2-3 centimeters, instead of using a nerve grafting procedure, a small absorbable tube is used. As an alternative a vein conduit can also be used, this is equally effective. Conduits may be used to cover or wrap the nerves to protect them from scar tissue in the surrounding area.
- Transfer surgery: On few occasions, the above procedures are not adequate to re-instate the normal functioning of the muscle, tendon or the nerve. In such cases transfer of other nerves, muscle or tendons ( which are less frequently used or have multiple controlling nerve supplies) are used
- Nerve Transplant: A rarely used procedure which involves transfer of nerve tissue from other patient.
- Surgery for Nerve Tumors:
- Management of nerve tumors involves the excision of the benign or cancerous cells by the oncologist. During the procedure all precautions are taken to ensure minimum damage to the nerve tissue and its functions.
Preoperative Management: Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- A physical evaluation and assessment of the patient is done to verify the urgency and severity of managing the clinical condition. This physical evaluation will include sensory evaluation (which will consist of, the two point discrimination test and light touch test) and Motor assessment (which will include pinch and grip strength measurement and muscle strength measurement).
- Radiological scans like MRI, CT or other studies would be conducted depending upon the condition, to confirm the diagnosis.
- The surgery may be conducted under general anesthesia on IPD basis or under local anesthesia on OPD basis depending upon the severity of the condition and the nerve involved.
Post-operative Care: Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- In a peripheral nerve surgery conducted on OPD basis, the patient is discharged within a couple of hours on the same day.
- For procedures which are conducted on IPD basis, the patient is hospitalized for a few days after the procedure. The dressing is removed 2-3 days after the procedure.
- The patient is recommended several physical exercises to enhance the mobility of the joints. These exercises are aimed at maintaining the functionality of the unaffected muscles at the initial stages after the surgery and subsequently to regain the sensory and motor functions of the affected nerve.
Complications: Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Complications of peripheral nerve surgery are similar to complications associated with similar nature of surgeries which include infection, hematoma, injury to surrounding tissues, etc. There is also a possibility that the surrounding nerves may be injured during the surgical intervention which can further deteriorate the functionality of the affected organ.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery in South Korea:
Nerve Surgery is a complex surgical procedure which requires highly qualified teams with adequate technological support and infrastructure. With rapid augmentation seen in the healthcare infrastructure in South Korea, the country is attracting international patients from several countries in Europe, Asia and North America. South Korean Hospitals have been able to provide medical services at affordable prices with international quality standards.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery in India
Advancing technology and rapidly improving infrastructure and a huge pool of qualified manpower is causing a boom in the medical tourism market in India. These potential positive aspects, have allowed Indian hospitals to cater to international clientele at costs that are extremely low in comparison with any other country in the region. Furthermore, the surgical success rates are equivalent to those in the United States, attracting several patients annually from the country.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Mexico:
Ranking 61st in the World Health Organization’s list of countries with the best medical and health infrastructure, Mexico has claimed its share in the international medical tourism market. Medical tourists from United States are viewing Mexico as a strong option due to the advantage of cost, lowest international travel time for US citizens and comparatively similar cultural and traditional practices.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Turkey:
There are several reasons for selecting Turkey as a destination for medical tourism, its quality standards (which are comparable to the standards in the European Union), skilled and specially trained medical professionals with considerable hands on experience and charges of medical services at a fraction of those in the United States. These factors have been attributed to the exponential growth in the medical tourism market in the country.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Jordan:
Jordan is the central hub for health and medical tourists from the Middle East. Its ability to cater to international clientele, adhering to international quality standards and the adaptability to cater to patients from different cultural backgrounds has made it one of the most promising and fast growing centres of medical tourism.
Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates affordable Peripheral Nerve Surgery abroad at many international locations including Mexico, India & Spain. Fill out the free estimate request form for a free quote & more information.