Nerve injury classification
Classification of peripheral nerve injury is very important for prognosis,and to determine treatment strategies.Classification of nerve injury was described by Seddon in 1943 and by Sunderland in 1951[1].
Seddon's classification
In 1943,seddon described three basic types of peripheral nerve injury that include:
- Neuropraxia(Class 1)
- Axonotmesis(Class 2)
- Neurotmesis(class 3)
Neuropraxia
Neuropraxia is a temporary interruption of conduction without loss of axonal continuity[2].In neuropraxia,there is a physiologic block of nerve conduction in the affected axons.
Other characteristics:
- Neuropraxia is the mildest type of peripheral nerve injury.
- There are sensory-motor problems distal to the site of injury.
- The endoneurium, perineurium, and the epineurium are intact.
- There is not wallerian degeneration.
- In neuropraxia, conduction is intact in the distal segment and proximal segment, but no conduction occurs across the area of injury[3].
- Recovery of nerve conduction deficit is full,and requires days to weeks.
- EMG shows lack of fibrillation potentials (FP) and positive sharp waves.
Axonotmesis
It involves loss of the relative continuity of the axon and its covering of myelin, but preservation of the connective tissue framework of the nerve ( the encapsulating tissue, the epineurium and perineurium, are preserved )[4].
Other characteristics:
- Wallerian degeneration occurs below to the site of injury.
- There are sensory and motor deficits distal to the site of lesion.
- There is not nerve conduction distal to the site 0f injury(3 to 4 days after injury).
- EMG shows fibrillation potentials (FP),and positive sharp waves(2 to 3 weeks postinjury).
- Axonal regeneration occurs and recovery is possible without surgical treatment.Sometimes surgical intervention because of scar tissue formation is required.
Neurotmesis
Neurotmesis is a total severance or disruption of the entire nerve fiber.A peripheral nerve fiber contains an axon (Or long dendrite),myelin sheath(if existence), their schwann cells, and the endoneurium[5].Neurotmesis may be partial or complete.
Other characteristics:
- Wallerian degeneration occurs below to the site of injury.
- There is connective tissue lesion that may be partial or complete.
- Sensory-motor problems and autonomic function defect are severe.
- There is not nerve conduction distal to the site 0f injury(3 to 4 days after lesion).
- EMG and NCV findings are as axonotmesis.
- Because of lack of nerve repair,surgical intervention is necessary.
Sunderland's classification
In 1951,sunderland expanded seddon's classification to five degrees of peripheral nerve injury:
First-degree(Class 1): Seddon's neuropraxia and first-degree are the same.
Second-degree(Class 2): Seddon's axonotmesis and second-degree are the same.
Third-degree(Class 3): Sunderland's third-degree is a nerve fiber interruption.In third-degree injury,there is a lesion of the endoneurium,but the epineurium and perineurium remain intact.
Fourth-degree(Class 3): In fourth-degree injury,only the epineurium remain intact.
Fifth-degree(Class 3): Fifth-degree lesion is a complete transection of the peripheral nerve.
References
- ^ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1270360-overview
- ^ Otto D.Payton & Richard P.Di Fabio et al.Manual of physical therapy.Churchill Livingstone Inc.ISBN 0-443-08499-8
- ^ http://www.cmki.org/LMHS/Chapters/33-electrophysiological.htm
- ^ http://www.medstudents.com.br/neuroc/neuroc4.htm
- ^ [http://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A8%DB%8C |fa:تار عصبی]