Nerve Biopsy

A nerve biopsy is a minor procedure where a small sample of the nerve is taken for testing. This testing is done to help establish a diagnosis because of nerve symptoms or other disease. Establishing a diagnosis can allow your doctor to form a specific treatment plan.

Normally, one of three nerves are biopsied: the sural nerve (at the ankle), the superficial radial nerve (at the wrist), or the ulnar nerve (at the wrist). The sural nerve is most commonly biopsied.

Nerve biopsies are done as an outpatient, and no hospital stay is required. The procedure is done under local anesthetic. You will be asked to lie down, and local anesthetic will be injected into the area where the biopsy will be done. You will be awake for the procedure. A small cut is made, and a tiny piece of the nerve is sampled. The wound site is then stitched with self-dissolving sutures under the skin, and steri strips are used on the external skin. The procedure takes 30-60 minutes.

Risks of the nerve biopsies include bleeding and/or infection. The three nerves are chosen because the loss of sensation is small and it does not affect your muscle function. After the procedure, you may have altered sensation including a prickling sensation, and/or pain.

After the biopsy, you should rest your leg or arm for the first day. Keep the wound site dry for 48 hours after your procedure. The steri strips fall off within a week. Sports and excessive exertion should be avoided for 2 weeks. You want to watch the wound site for signs of infection: fever greater than 101.5 F, redness, pus, drainage, increased pain, or swelling.

After the procedure, the sample is taken to the lab for testing. It may take up to 2 weeks for your biopsy results to be final. Your neurologist will be able to discuss the results with you once they have arrived.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our office.