Hi Doctor, in july I underwent a radical procedure where my inguinal nerve was cut without my prior consent.
I am wondering if it is possible for a neurologist to get back in there and reconnect it? and if so is there any deadline from the surgery for it to remain a posibility?
Thank you.

Doctor Sinuhe Answers:

Thanks for your question. I need to ask some questions back before I can discuss the matter further.

The inguinal nerve was cut unintentionally? Cut or crushed? What symptoms is the present situation causing? Was an EMG/ENMG done and what did it show? Did you discuss the matter with the doctor who did the operation and what did he say?

Yes, it is theoretically possible to reconnect the cut nerve ends (not by a neurologist, though, but for example by the doctor who did the initial operation, a plastic surgeon, orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon, depending on their experience).

The more time passes, the harder it is for the nerve to recover. The nerve grows, or tries to grow, from the the proximal stump towards the limb (distally) and the distal stump, the “path” becomes scarred with time, so that it will become more and more difficult for the nerve to grow into it and towards the end-organ. And if enough time has passed, the end-organ won’t recover even if the nerve eventually reaches it.

Generally speaking, often the dilemma with peripheral nerve trauma is that it may be difficult to know if the nerve is cut or crushed. if crushed, it may be sensible to wait for spontaneous growth to occur (since the continuity of the “path” may be intact and the growing nerve will find its way. If, however, the continuity has been lost, the nerve can rarely grow over the small gap formed by the pulled nerve ends.

Personally, I’d probably first contact the doctor/institution who did the initial operation and depending on what they say, I’d think about contacting a plastic surgeon.

Dr Sinuhe