Classification of peripheral nerve injury assists in prognosis and determination of treatment strategy. Classification of nerve injury was described by Seddon in 1943 and by Sunderland in 1951. The lowest degree of nerve injury in which the nerve remains intact but signaling ability is damaged is called neurapraxia. The second degree in which the axon is damaged but the surrounding connecting tissue remains intact is called axonotmesis. The last degree in which both the axon and connective tissue are damaged is called neurotmesis.
It is a temporary interruption of conduction without loss of axonal continuity. In neurapraxia, there is a physiologic block of nerve conduction in the affected axons. Other characteristics:
It is the mildest type of peripheral nerve injury.
There are sensory-motor problems distal to the site of injury.
Conduction is intact in the distal segment and proximal segment, but no conduction occurs across the area of injury.
Recovery of nerve conduction deficit is full, and requires days to weeks.
EMG shows lack of fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves.
Axonotmesis (Class II)
It involves loss of the relative continuity of the axon and its covering of myelin, but preservation of the connective tissue framework of the nerve. Other characteristics:
Wallerian degeneration occurs distal to the site of injury.
There are sensory and motor deficits distal to the site of lesion.
There is no nerve conduction distal to the site of injury.
EMG shows fibrillation potentials, and positive sharp waves.
Axonal regeneration occurs and recovery is possible without surgical treatment. Sometimes surgical intervention because of scar tissueformation is required.
It is a total severance or disruption of the entire nerve fiber. A peripheral nerve fiber contains an axon, myelin sheath, their schwann cells, and the endoneurium. Neurotmesis may be partial or complete. Other characteristics:
Wallerian degeneration occurs distal to the site of injury.
There is connective tissue lesion that may be partial or complete.
Because of lack of nerve, surgical intervention is necessary.
Sunderland's classification
In 1951, Sunderland expanded Seddon's classification to five degrees of peripheral nerve injury: ;First-degree : Seddon's neurapraxia and first-degree are the same. ;Second-degree : Seddon's axonotmesis and second-degree are the same. ;Third-degree : Third-degree is included within Seddon's Neurotmesis. Sunderland's third-degree is a nerve fiber interruption. In third-degree injury, there is a lesion of the endoneurium, but the epineurium and perineurium remain intact. Recovery from a third-degree injury is possible, but surgical intervention may be required. ;Fourth-degree : Fourth-degree is included within Seddon's Neurotmesis. In fourth-degree injury, only the epineurium remain intact. In this case, surgical repair is required. ;Fifth-degree : Fifth-degree is included within Seddon's Neurotmesis. Fifth-degree lesion is a complete transection of the nerve. Recovery is not possible without an appropriate surgical treatment.
