Classification of Nerve Injuries

January 9, 2021 | By : OrthoFixar | Basic Science

| Last updated on March 30, 2021

Nerve injury can result from compression, gun shoot, stapping injuries or iatrogenic injuries.
The most widely used classification of Nerve Injuries are Seddon & Sunderland Classification.

What is the classification of Nerve Injuries?

Type	Description	Recovery
Neurapraxia	Paralysis in the absence of peripheral degeneration.	The delay in recovery may be long, but recovery will be complete.
Axonotmesis	Damage to nerve fibers with complete peripheral degeneration but with intact of the Schwann sheath which provide support for accurate spontaneous regeneration.	Good recovery is anticipated, and no intervention can improve the outcome. Complete recovery depends on a number of factors, including timely removal of the compression and axon regeneration.
Neurotmesis	All essential structures, both neural and supporting tissues, have been disrupted. This category includes neuroma in continuity, division of nerves, and anatomic disruption.	Recovery rarely is complete, and the amount of loss can only be determined over time.

Seddon classification

See Also: Brachial Plexus Palsy

Degree	Description
I	In this injury all structures are preserves, but conduction is temporarily blocked.
II	In this injury, wallerian degeneration occurs, but endoneurial integrity is maintained and recovery is complete.
III	This Injury adds endoneurial destruction and internal fascicular disorganization . recovery is poorer, with possible cross-regeneration.
IV	This injury characterized by complete internal disorganization, but some continuity of external structure remains.
V	This injury involves complete disruption of all nerve structures.