Page 23 - Microsurgery

This patient had previously undergone multiple surgeries on the forearm due to a lesion of
the superficial radial nerve, where intraosseous embedding had already been performed,
and she presented with persistent pain. A graft of the superficial radial nerve using the
external saphenous nerve was decided.



Harvesting of the external saphenous nerve is performed using a nerve stripper. An incision
is made on the lateral aspect of the ankle, the nerve is identified and sectioned distally, then
passed through the proximal part of the stripper.

The head of this stripper consists of two elements connected by a hinge. The nerve is passed
through the proximal part, and the stripper is carefully introduced upward along the leg. At
this point, the distal mechanism is opened and rotated, causing the two proximal elements
to rotate and cut the nerve proximally, after which the nerve is progressively withdrawn.

22