Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : Impressed by the multiplicity of theories and concepts concerning nerve surgery and by the difficulty of drawing grounded conclusions from the different and contradictory works available on the subject, the author reviews the biology of the nerve, to be used as a point of departure for further investigation. Based on the fact that the protheosynthetic capacity of the nerve cell is known to be at its highest value during the first week after lesion of the nerve, the author endeavours to compare immediate suture with delayed suture. This comparative study is based both on electrophysiological and histological data and shows clearly enough the real advantage of trying nerve reconstruction as early as possible, to avoid progression of devitalisation and invasion by fibrosis of both stumps. The surgical procedures are carried out with the operating microscope and the same technique is used in both groups.