What Is Peripheral Nerve Surgery?
Your peripheral nerves branch out from your brain and spine to help you move, see, hear, and feel sensations. Peripheral nerve surgery improves your function and minimizes pain associated with peripheral nerve disorders and injuries.
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Peripheral nerve repair requires a multidisciplinary approach. At U of U Health, we bring together the expertise of neurosurgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation providers to provide the best outcome for you.
Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques for simple and complex surgeries. These techniques give our patients better outcomes:
- Less time in surgery
- Less pain
- Shorter recovery
You also may be eligible to participate in ongoing clinical research to develop new approaches for peripheral nerve repair.
Peripheral Nerve Conditions
Peripheral nerve surgery treats more than 100 types of injuries and conditions.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (one of the most common disorders treated with peripheral nerve surgery)
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Bernhardt-Roth syndrome
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis, schwannomas, and nerve tumors
- Spasticity
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Traumatic nerve injuries
Candidate Criteria for Peripheral Nerve Surgery
You may be a candidate for peripheral nerve surgery if you have a nerve problem with the following symptoms:
- Limited movement
- Pain
- Loss of sensation
You should see one of our surgeons immediately after a nerve injury for the best possible outcome. Our surgeons will offer solutions to help control your pain and improve your everyday function for a better quality of life.
Peripheral Nerve Surgeries
Our surgeons perform six categories of peripheral nerve surgeries:
- Decompression to release nerves compressed by surrounding tissues or structures like tendons, ligaments, and bones
- Reconstruction to rebuild damaged nerves or graft (connect) healthy nerves following an illness or injury
- Tumor removal from peripheral nerves
- Nerve stimulator surgery or targeted muscle reinnervation to decrease pain associated with nerve problems
- Surgery to trim nerves to reduce spasticity (an abnormal increase in muscle tone)
- Diagnostic procedures for nerve conditions or disorders
Nerve Decompression Surgery for Peripheral Neuropathy
During this procedure, your surgeon will release the nerve to improve blood flow and allow the nerve to glide with your joints as they move.
Find a Peripheral Nerve Surgeon
See a Peripheral Nerve Surgeon
Peripheral nerve problems require the expertise of multiple specialists. Our neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation providers diagnose problems, while orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons fix nerve problems. Please ask your provider to send a referral and any clinical documentation or film studies.