{"id":9836,"date":"2024-05-08T11:24:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T15:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurosurgery\/?page_id=9836"},"modified":"2025-07-14T18:17:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T22:17:07","slug":"peripheral-nerve-surgery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurosurgery\/services\/peripheral-nerve-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Peripheral Nerve Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is peripheral neuropathy?<\/h2>\n

Peripheral nerves are located outside of the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerve damage, or peripheral neuropathy, occurs when these outer nerves are damaged, leading to numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain. In some cases, peripheral neuropathy can also disrupt other bodily functions, such as the bladder or bowels.<\/p>\n

There are many different types of peripheral neuropathy. Some patients require less invasive treatment options, while some require surgery to alleviate pain and restore function. Dr. Attiah performs surgical procedures for patients with nerve injury, nerve tumors, and entrapment or compression syndromes like carpal tunnel.<\/p>\n

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Peripheral Nerve Surgery at UNC Health<\/h2>\n
\"Brachial
Illustration: Xian Boles, MFA, CMI\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Mark Attiah is the Director of Peripheral Nerve Surgery for the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC Health. He is one of only a few neurosurgeons in the country who specializes in the treatment of complex peripheral nerve disorders leading to extremity pain and weakness.<\/p>\n

Dr. Attiah uses techniques including intraoperative electrical stimulation and endoscopy to treat patients with peripheral nerve disorders. His extensive training in spine surgery allows him to help patients with spinal cord injuries restore function from the spinal cord to the nerves that go to the muscles of the arms and legs.<\/p>\n

A severe brachial plexus injury can occur after a traumatic injury to the neck. This type of injury can cause severe pain, numbness, lack of mobility, function, and feeling in the arm or hand. Physical therapy and other nonsurgical methods can be used to treat minor brachial plexus injuries, but severe brachial plexus injuries, such as an avulsion, may require surgery.<\/p>\n

An avulsion occurs when the nerve root is disconnected from the spinal cord, causing partial or full paralysis. Brachial plexus surgery is typically followed by outpatient physical therapy.<\/p>\n

Dr. Attiah treats patients with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Compressive peripheral nerve disorders<\/h3>\n

Carpal Tunnel (median nerve at the wrist)
\nCubital Tunnel (ulnar nerve at the elbow)
\nFibular tunnel (peroneal nerve at the knee)
\nNeurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome
\nMeralgia paresthetica (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve)
\nRadial tunnel syndrome
\nGuyon\u2019s canal (Ulnar neuropathy at the wrist)
\nTarsal tunnel (tibial neuropathy at the ankle)
\nThoracic outlet syndrome<\/p>\n

Nerve Injuries<\/h3>\n

Shoulder weakness from shoulder dislocation or surgery (axillary nerve)
\nShoulder weakness from spine surgery (C5 palsy)
\nFoot drop from Knee dislocation or surgery (peroneal nerve)
\nWrist drop from humerus fracture (radial nerve)
\nSciatic nerve injury from hip surgery<\/p>\n

Nerve Pain<\/h3>\n

Traumatic neuroma treatments
\nAmputation neuromas
\nBrachial plexus avulsion injury pain<\/p>\n

Nerve Tumors<\/h3>\n

Malignant peripheral nerve sheathe tumors
\nPerineuriomas
\nPeripheral nerve tumors
\nNeurofibromatosis type I
\nNeurofibromatosis type II
\nSchwannomatosis<\/p>\n

Diagnostics<\/h3>\n

Muscle biopsy
\nNerve biopsy
\nPeripheral nerve ultrasound
\nElectromyography\/nerve conduction studies
\nDiagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks<\/td>\n

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\"Carpal
Illustration: Xian Boles, MFA, CMI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Nerve
Illustration: Xian Boles, MFA, CMI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Tunnel
Illustration: Xian Boles, MFA, CMI<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Peripheral Nerve Treatment at UNC Health<\/h2>\n
\"Thoracic
Illustration by Xian Boles, MFA, CMI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Peripheral Nerve Center at UNC Health<\/a> uses a team-based approach to care for patients with peripheral nerve problems ranging from the simplest to the most complex. Our multidisciplinary team consists of providers from orthopedic surgeons, nonoperative orthopedic physicians, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, neurophysiologists, musculoskeletal radiologists, and hand therapists.<\/p>\n

Read more about the Peripheral Nerve Center at UNC Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Neurofibromatosis Program at UNC Health<\/h2>\n
\"Nerve
Illustration: Xian Boles, MFA, CMI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition that causes tumor growth along the nerves. These tumors are typically benign, but often become malignant and require a multidisciplinary treatment approach that includes physicians from neuro oncology. Because of the various locations of the tumors in the body, other medical and surgical specialties may be part of a patient\u2019s care team.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the neurofibromatosis program at UNC Health.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Our Team<\/h2>\n

Neurosurgery<\/h3>\n
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\n \t\t\n
\n \"Mark\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
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\n Mark Attiah, MD, MS, MBE, MPH <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Director of Peripheral Nerve Surgery
\nVice Chair, Ambulatory Operations
\n<\/span>Assistant Professor<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n \n