The free vascularized sural nerve graft

Abstract

The sural nerve is reported as a new donor nerve of the free vascularized nerve graft in dissection of a fresh cadaver and in five clinical cases. The free vascularized sural nerve grafts were transferred to two median nerves, two ulnar nerves and one brachial plexus. The vascularized sural nerve was nourished by the cutaneous branch of the peroneal artery or the muscular perforating branch of the posterior tibial artery in our grafts. Compared to other vascularized nerve grafts, the sural nerve has many advantages, which are described.