neurotmesist

Neurotmesis is a medical term used to describe a complete severance of a nerve. This condition represents the most severe grade of nerve injury, according to the Seddon classification. In neurotmesis, not only is the nerve fiber disrupted, but the surrounding connective tissues, including the epineurium, perineurium, and endoneurium, are also torn. This means there is a total loss of continuity of the nerve. Consequently, there is a complete loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic function distal to the site of injury. Because the nerve is entirely divided, regeneration of the nerve fibers across the gap is extremely unlikely to occur spontaneously. Surgical intervention is typically required to attempt repair, usually involving nerve grafting or suture of the severed ends. The prognosis for recovery after neurotmesis is generally poor, even with surgical repair, as the precise alignment of nerve fascicles is difficult to achieve and scar tissue formation can further impede regrowth. Causes of neurotmesis include severe trauma such as crushing injuries, complete transection from sharp objects, or significant stretching that leads to complete rupture.