The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Nerve repair surgery
SURGERY TO REPAIR A DAMAGED NERVE
Nerve injury causes numbness and loss of movement — our HCA UK surgeon, Mr Marco Sinisi, specialises in complex nerve repair surgery
What is nerve repair surgery?
Nerve repair surgery aims to restore feeling and muscle use in a damaged area — it's a complex and delicate surgery.
Our nerves are like special cables which carry messages to our brain and other parts of the body.
When a nerve becomes damaged or injured, it may stop sending these signals, causing numbness and inability to use your muscles. During nerve repair surgery, your surgeon will reconnect the ends of the nerve. This aims to restore function to the area over time.
Nerve damage is most often caused by traumas and previous surgeries.
Need to know
Nerve repair surgery happens under general anaesthetic. Your surgeon will trim any damaged tissue from the nerve ending (the peripheral nerve in hand surgery) and realign the fibres within the nerve using a microscope. The nerve is then reattached.
If the surgeon has to cut a lot of damaged nerve from the end, it may be too short to reattach. Here, a nerve from elsewhere in the body may be used in its place (nerve grafting).
Your consultant will explain the procedure and how to prepare. They'll also answer any questions you may have. You won't need to stay overnight and can go home after your surgery.
You should arrange to have someone take you home as you won't be able to drive. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you.
Strengthening the newly attached nerve fibres is vital and physiotherapy plays a key role in recovery. After approximately three weeks, your physiotherapist will help you with certain exercises to help restore function.
They may also use electrical sensory and motor stimulation to aid recovery of the repaired nerve. These exercises will gradually intensify, until function improves.
Mr Marco Sinisi - Peripheral Nerve Specialist
At HCA Healthcare UK, we work with leading consultants to enable access to the the latest techniques and treatment.
Mr Marco Sinisi is our lead consultant for Peripheral Nerve Injuries based at The Wellington Hospital. Mr Sinisi has a comprehensive knowledge of nerve injuries and has experience in a wide range of nerve problems from trauma through to sports injuries. He is experienced in managing complex nerve conditions as well as performing complex nerve operations.
Our Nerve repair surgery locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.