Background We explore a minimally invasive method (combined ultrasound detection, electrode placement and electrophysiologic nerve examination) to evaluate the early-stage quality of a nerve suture site.

Methods Ten patients with median and/or ulnar nerve injuries who had undergone nerve suture were recruited. Postoperative ultrasound examination found that the nerve injury was sutured. Then, a stimulating electrode and recording electrode were located beside the nerve proximal and distal to the suture site guided by ultrasound. Measurement of nerve action potentials (NAP) were performed with these electrodes, followed by surgical exploration. The pre- and intraoperative electrophysiologic findings were compared, together with amplitude, latency, and wave shape of NAP.

Results Of the 10 patients, 3 patients were diagnosed with median nerve injury, 2 with ulnar nerve injury, and 5 with the median nerve and ulnar nerve injury. NAP could not be detected pre- and intraoperatively in three median nerves from three patients and in two ulnar nerves from two patients. NAP was detected in 10 nerves from the remaining 5 patients. The pre- and intraoperative NAP results showed consistent results concerning the status of the nerve suture. Wilcoxon's signed-rank test indicated no significant difference in the amplitude and latency detected via sonographically placed electrodes and during surgical exploration. The number of negative-phase waves were equally distributed.

Conclusion Ultrasound-guided electrode placement and NAP detection can substitute surgery and serve as a minimally invasive approach to evaluate the regeneration of a sutured nerve.

The study was approved by the Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. Written informed consents were obtained from all the patients.

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

D.H. designed the study, conducted the imaging data collection and processing, wrote and edited the draft, and finalized the manuscript. L.X. performed the statistical analysis. J.G.X. participated in writing and editing the draft and finalizing the manuscript. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Received: 26 January 2022

Accepted: 29 April 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
03 May 2022

Article published online:
17 October 2023

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