50 Years of peripheral nerve surgery: A neurologist's view

Abstract

When the author started his training as a neurologist exactly 50 years ago, the only diagnostic tools used were clinical examination and testing of excitability of peripheral nerves and muscles by electrical square waves impulses. The EMG was introduced to Switzerland in 1953. In the early fifties of the last century the carpal tunnel syndrome was redetected and became clinically important. Then a real boom of entrapment syndromes began and also became somewhat exaggerated. Lesions of peripheral nerves were repaired 50 years ago by every general surgeon and suture under tension was too frequently applied. Finally interponates were used. It had to be shown that only autotransplantates were really successful. The technique of peripheral nerve surgery got more and more sophisticated and more and more specialists were trained. The widespread use of the microscope started. Nowadays the peripheral nerve surgeon is by himself an excellent specialist, not only in the treatment but also in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve lesions.