Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39991600›Full record

ArticleJournal of hand surgery global online2025

Intraoperative Electrical Nerve Stimulation as a Prognostic Tool in Patients Undergoing Peripheral Nerve Neurolysis.

Christoph A Schroen, Yufan Yan, Christian E Awah, Unwana Abasi, Paul J Cagle, Michael R Hausman, Steven M Koehler

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of hand surgery global online, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Christoph A SchroenDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Yufan YanDepartment of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Montefiore Einstein, Bronx, NY.
Christian E AwahDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Unwana AbasiDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Paul J CagleDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Michael R HausmanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Steven M KoehlerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Hand Surgery, Montefiore Einstein, Bronx, NY.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Functional recovery from peripheral nerve injuries remains unpredictable and continues to pose a major clinical challenge to surgeons. This study sought to investigate the utility of intraoperative nerve stimulation following neurolysis surgery as a prognostic indicator of functional recovery. Methods: A retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent peripheral nerve neurolysis between September 2021 and December 2022 was performed. A handheld nerve stimulator was used intraoperatively before and after neurolysis. Patients with preoperative motor deficits corresponding to the nerve that underwent neurolysis, intraoperative nerve stimulation, and postoperative follow-up length of at least 3 months were included. Muscle strength as measured by the Medical Research Council scale was used to evaluate nerve function. A scale grade of 0 or 1 meant "no recovery," between 2 and 4 was classified as "partial recovery," and 5 was classified as "full recovery." Fisher exact tests were employed to test for an association between stimulation thresholds and functional recovery. Results: A total of 27 patients and 45 nerves were included in the study, with a mean follow-up of 8.0 months. Intraoperative stimulation at 0.5 mA was observed in 73% (33/45) of nerves, with 76% achieving full recovery, 18% partial recovery, and 6% no recovery. Two nerves stimulated at 2 mA and one at 20 mA, with both showing partial recovery. In contrast, 22% (10/45) of nerves showed no stimulation, leading to full recovery in 20%, partial recovery in 30%, and no recovery in 50% of cases. A significant ( Conclusions: Intraoperative nerve stimulation is strongly linked to functional recovery postneurolysis, demonstrating its potential as a prognostic tool for guiding surgical decisions. Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic, IV.

Indexed as

Brachial plexusHand surgeryNerve stimulationNeuromaPeripheral nerve injury

Identifiers

PMID39991600
PMCPMC11846578

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.