Letter: Commentary: Neurapraxia in Time and Space

To the Editor: We were honored to read the Commentary by Patel et al1 on our article Neurapraxia in Time and Space.2 Our article included a synopsis of the historical origins of neurapraxia. We were delighted that Dr Mackinnon and colleagues used our article as a platform to provide a provocative perspective on her recent classification of ischemic neurapraxia and her proposal to modify the Sunderland classification of nerve injury. We remain indebted to Sir Sydney Sunderland, a brilliant neuroanatomist, scholar, and teacher (Figure 1), and we also celebrate the many contributions of Dr Mackinnon to the evolving field of nerve injury and her integral part in the history of nerve surgery (Figure 2). We hope that future generations of nerve surgeons will be inspired by these greats of nerve surgery and continue to expand our knowledge and understanding of nerve injuries for the benefit of our patients.FIGURE 1.: A, Sir Sydney Sunderland lecturing at the Sunderland Society meeting 1990. B, Sir Sydney Sunderland preparing for a meeting. Photographs provided courtesy of Dr Ian Sunderland.FIGURE 2.: Dr Susan Mackinnon and Sir Sydney Sunderland, 1983. Photograph provided courtesy of Dr Susan Mackinnon.