Journal of reconstructive microsurgery
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J Reconstr Microsurg · Jul 2010
ReviewWhich end is up? Terminology for terminolateral (end-to-side) nerve repair: a review.
By convention, we "come from" and "go to." A flap has a donor site and goes to a recipient site. A transplant comes from a donor and goes to a recipient. Neural regeneration proceeds from proximal to distal. ⋯ The full descriptive phrase must include whether the intent is to reinnervate a skin target and is, therefore, a sensory repair, or to reinnervate a motor target. The names of both the donor and the recipient nerves must be specified. Illustrations of these logical possibilities are shown in this review of the modern history of "end-to-side" or "side-to-end" nerve coaptations.