Follow-up evaluation with ultrasonography of peripheral nerve injuries after an earthquake

Published data on earthquake-associated peripheral nerve injury is very limited. Ultrasonography has been proven to be efifcient in the clinic to diagnose peripheral nerve injury. The aim of this study was to assess the role of ultrasound in the evaluation of persistent peripheral nerve injuries 1 year after the Wenchuan earthquake. Thirty-four patients with persistent clinical symptoms and neurologic signs of impaired nerve function were evaluated with sonography prior to surgi-cal repair. Among 34 patients, ultrasonography showed that 48 peripheral nerves were entrapped, and 11 peripheral nerves were disrupted. There was one case of misdiagnosis on ultrasonogra-phy. The concordance rate of ultrasonographic ifndings with those of surgical ifndings was 98%. A total of 48 involved nerves underwent neurolysis and the symptoms resolved. Only ifve nerves had scar tissue entrapment. Preoperative and postoperative clinical and ultrasonographic results were concordant, which veriifed that ultrasonography is useful for preoperative diagnosis and postoperative evaluation of injured peripheral nerves.