Abstract: Objective To provide the new method for repairing bilateral proper digital nerve defects.Methods From March 2010 to January 2013,17 patients with bilateral proper digital nerve defects were admitted to our center.During operation,the injured digital nerve was excised,then bilateral distal ends and proximal ends were sutured,respectively; consequently,the distal and proximal nerve bows were formed.A cutaneous antebrachii lateralis nerve was freed and obtained from the homolateral forearm,then divided equally to 2 parts which were used to bridge the 2 nerve bows.Results All the patients achieved primary healing of wound after operation,17 fingers recovered uneventfully.Postoperative follow-up interval ranged from 3.5 to 6.8 months,with an average of 4.7 months.The sensation of fingertip recovered ranged from S2 to S4 (mean S3 ) and the two point discrimination ranged from 5.2 to 8.5 mm (average,6.45 mm) in 17 cases.According to the total active movement (TAM) evaluation system introduced by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand in 1975,the results were excellent in 11 cases,good in 4 cases,and fair in 2 case,and the excellent and good rate was 88.2%.Conclusion The arched nerves of double end-to-side neuroanastomosis is valuable method for repairing bilateral proper digital nerve defects.

Key words: End-to-side neuroanastomosis, Proper digital nerve, Reconstructive surgical procedures