A 6 cm segment of the median nerve is excised after a contaminated mangling forearm injury, and graft reconstruction is planned once the wound has healed. Which nerve is the standard donor for the cable graft?

• A Sural nerve ✓
• B Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve
• C Medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm
• D Superficial radial nerve

Explanation

The sural nerve is the standard autograft donor: it provides 25 to 40 cm of usable length, has a consistent anatomy, is purely sensory with minimal donor morbidity limited to a small lateral foot and ankle numbness, and can be harvested endoscopically with low complication rates. Superficial radial nerve harvest risks damaging the dominant sensory territory of the thumb and index web space, so it is reserved for special situations such as transfer to the digital nerves.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.