Mononeuropathy: effective treatment in Ternopil

Causes of damage

The human body is designed in such a way that it has narrow anatomical channels through which nerve trunks pass. Under normal conditions, the size of these channels is sufficient for the functioning of nerves. However, due to some diseases, these channels narrow, which leads to compression of the nerve and temporary or complete disruption of its function.

Mononeuropathy is a lesion of the nerve trunk. Most often, it is caused by trauma or prolonged compression of the nerve. Nerve damage is manifested by a violation or complete loss of its function – weakness or decreased sensitivity appears in the area of ​​innervation.

Causes of nerve damage can be:

• anatomical features (tunnel syndromes),
• occupational hazards,
• sports injuries,
• chronic diseases (tumors, diabetes, atherosclerosis).

Diagnostics

Timely diagnosed neuropathy, in some cases, can be treated conservatively. However, with significant narrowing of the channels, such treatment is ineffective. To achieve maximum effect with conservative treatment, the affected limb segment must be additionally immobilized to minimize the likelihood of re-traumatization of the nerve.

Blockades

Another mandatory component of conservative therapy is blockades with corticosteroids . Hormones are injected directly into the site of nerve compression.

Blockades have shown their high effectiveness due to their pronounced anti-edema, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Hormones also have demyelinating activity in autoimmune nerve lesions.

Thanks to their local administration, their systemic effect and, accordingly, the risk of complications are practically eliminated.

When visiting the neurosurgical department of the Kherson Regional Clinical Hospital, the patient undergoes a full range of necessary diagnostic measures, including ultrasound diagnostics (performed by the only specialist in the region specializing in diseases of the peripheral nervous system ).

After further examination and diagnosis, the patient is prescribed conservative therapy, which includes physiotherapy procedures, immobilization of the limb, and blockades with corticosteroids .

The neurosurgeon has accumulated experience in successful surgical treatment of neuropathies and has implemented effective treatment regimens for this pathology. Only after the ineffectiveness of a course of conservative therapy will the patient be offered surgical treatment.

Conservative treatment of mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy is a disease that manifests itself as weakness and/or impaired sensitivity in the innervation zone of the affected nerve. It occurs as a result of:

• Most often occur due to nerve trauma,
• high joint activity (especially their prolonged hyperextension),
• prolonged nerve compression:
  • cycling,
  • working at the computer,
  • compression with a splint, etc.

In the case of nerve compression, pain in the area of ​​compression is added to the symptoms. 

Compression

The most effective method of treating neuropathies is to eliminate the factors that led to nerve damage, most often it is its compression. Before offering the patient surgical treatment, conservative therapy is prescribed. In case of its effectiveness, the operation can be postponed.

For maximum effectiveness, conservative treatment should be carried out in a neurosurgical hospital, where it is possible to provide a comprehensive approach to the therapy of neuropathies. Thanks to the constant supervision of a neurosurgeon , it is possible to timely correct the prescribed treatment.

Comprehensive treatment

Three important components:

• prescribing painkillers (a set of necessary drugs is individually selected for each patient, depending on the cause of the nerve damage and its neurological manifestations);
• blockades with hormones (such blockades provide direct targeted delivery of the drug to the site of nerve damage; already during the procedure, the patient notices a significant decrease in the intensity of the pain syndrome)
• physiotherapy and immobilization of the limb.

Only in case of ineffectiveness of the treatment is the patient offered surgical intervention.

A neurosurgeon has extensive clinical experience in treating diseases of the peripheral nervous system .

The neurosurgical room of the department is equipped with the necessary equipment for conservative treatment. The presence of an operating microscope and special micro-instruments allows for effective, high-precision surgical interventions.

Surgical treatment (decompression of nerve trunks)

Operation

The most effective treatment for tunnel neuropathies is surgery.

Our department performs all types of surgical interventions for this pathology, which are performed through small incisions up to 3 cm. Through them, it is possible to cut the ligaments and release the compressed nerve.

All operations are performed under a microscope, using micro-instruments, which allows us not to damage the thin and delicate nerve trunks. Operations are performed under local anesthesia and last up to 20 minutes. 

Result

After the operation, the pain syndrome regresses. Motor function, sensitivity and tissue nutrition are restored over time. There are practically no contraindications to such operations.

Surgical interventions for tunnel neuropathies are best performed in the initial stages of the disease. In advanced cases, electrodes are placed on the nerves after they are released. After the operation, they are electrically stimulated with a special device.

This technique allows you to significantly improve nerve function.

Neurosurgeon Seledets O.A. and Leontiev O.Yu.