The sural nerve graft
is a technique that can be used during the radical retropubic
prostatectomy in the treatment of prostate cancer. If
the nerve sparing technique cannot be performed, a surgeon
may remove a piece of the nerve that runs through the
inner thigh. The surgeon will then graft that piece
of nerve to the former location of neurovascular nerve
bundles. Hopefully the new nerve will replace the function
of one of the neurovascular nerve bundles and help promote
sexual potency after prostate cancer treatment. The
patient, however, will lose feeling in a small portion
of the outside of his foot.
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