We report the results of 15 patients who underwent nerve transfer for restoration of shoulder and elbow function at our institution for traumatic brachial plexus palsy. We present these results in the context of a meta-analysis of the English literature, designed to quantitatively assess the efficacy of individual nerve transfers for restoration of elbow and shoulder function in a large number of patients. One thousand eighty-eight nerve transfers from 27 studies met the inclusion criteria of the analysis. Seventy-two percent of direct intercostal to musculocutaneous transfers (without interposition nerve grafts) achieved biceps strength > or =M3 versus 47% using interposition grafts. Direct intercostal transfers to the musculocutaneous nerve had a better ability to achieve > or =M4 elbow strength than transfers from the spinal accessory nerve (41% vs 29%). The suprascapular nerve fared significantly better than the axillary nerve in obtaining > or =M3 shoulder abduction (92% vs 69%). At our institution 90% of intercostal to musculocutaneous transfers (n = 10) achieved > or =M3 bicep strength and 70% achieved > or =M4 strength. Four of seven patients achieved > or =M3 shoulder abduction with a single nerve transfer and 6 of 7 regained > or =M3 strength with a dual nerve transfer. This study suggests that interposition nerve grafts should be avoided when possible when performing nerve transfers. Better results for restoration of elbow flexion have been attained with intercostal to musculocutaneous transfers than with spinal accessory nerve transfers and spinal accessory to suprascapular transfers appear to have the best outcomes for return of shoulder abduction. We conclude that nerve transfer is an effective means to restore elbow and shoulder function in brachial plexus paralysis.

Results of nerve transfer techniques for restoration of shoulder and elbow function in the context of a meta-analysis of the English literature.

Posttraumatic brachial plexus palsy is a severe injury primarily affecting young individuals at the prime of their life. The devastating neurological dysfunction inflicted in those patients is usually lifelong and creates significant socioeconomic issues. During the past 30 years, the surgical repair of these injuries has become increasingly feasible. At many centers around the world, leading surgeons have introduced new microsurgical techniques and reported a variety of different philosophies for the reconstruction of the plexus. Microneurolysis, nerve grafting, recruitment of intraplexus and extraplexus donors, and local and free-muscle transfers are used to achieve optimal outcomes. However, there is yet no consensus on the priorities and final goals of reconstruction among the various centers.

The surgical treatment of brachial plexus injuries in adults.

Adult traumatic brachial plexus injuries are devastating life-altering injuries occurring with increasing frequency. Evaluation includes a detailed physical examination and radiologic and electrodiagnostic studies. Critical concepts in surgical management include knowledge of injury patterns, timing of surgery, prioritization in restoration of function, and management of patient expectations. Options for treatment include neurolysis, nerve grafting, or nerve transfers and should be generally performed within 6 months of injury. The use of free functioning muscle transfers can improve function both in the acute and late setting. Modern patient-specific management can often permit consistent restoration of elbow flexion and shoulder stability with the potential of prehension of the hand. Understanding the basic concepts of management of this injury is essential for all orthopaedic surgeons who treat trauma patients.

Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries

This article provides an update of the current strategies of motor and sensory nerve transfers for peripheral nerve lesions of the upper extremity. Indications, techniques, and outcomes are summarized for both well-established transfers used in the management of proximal and brachial plexus injuries as well as those more recently developed for more distal and isolated nerve injuries in the forearm and hand.

Nerve Transfers: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

Object. Outcomes of 1019 brachial plexus lesions in patients who underwent surgery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center during a 30-year period are reviewed in this paper to provide management guidelines. Methods. Causes of brachial plexus lesions included 509 stretches/contusions (50%), 161 plexus tumors (16%), 160 thoracic outlet syndromes (TOSs, 16%), 118 gunshot wounds (12%), and 71 lacerations (7%). Many features of clinical presentation, including prior treatment, patient's neurological status, results of electrophysiological studies, intraoperative findings, and postoperative level of function, were studied. The minimum follow-up period was 18 months and the mean follow-up period was 42 months. Repairs were best for injuries located at the C-5, C-6, and C-7 levels, the upper and middle trunk, the lateral cord to the musculocutaneous nerve, and the median and posterior cords to the axillary and radial nerves. Conversely, results were poor for injuries at the C-8 and T-1 levels, and f...

Outcomes of surgery in 1019 brachial plexus lesions treated at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Traumatic root avulsion brachial plexus injuries in 216 patients were treated with spinal accessory-musculocutaneous neurotization to restore elbow flexion. The average postoperative follow-up period was 6 years, with a minimum of 2 years for all patients. The percentage of satisfactory biceps recovery (MRC III or better) was 72.5%. The average interval between the operation and MRC III motor recovery was 17 months. The percentage of poor results increased from 25.5% to 62.5% in patients who underwent operation later than 9 months after injury. This method of neurotization produces a result comparable with, if not better than, the results of other types of neurotization in restoration of elbow flexion.

Spinal accessory neurotization for restoration of elbow flexion in avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus

Between October 1984 and October 1993, 520 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries were treated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. There were 486 male and 34 female patients. Eighty-two percent of the injuries were caused by motorcycle accidents, 9% by other traffic accidents, and 9% by gunshot, stabbing, and other means. The initial physical examination revealed 332 (63.8%) complete paralyses and 88 (36.2%) incomplete paralyses. One hundred twenty-seven patients were treated conservatively, 43 patients were observed before definitive treatment was given, and 350 patients were treated by operative means. Four hundred and twenty-one surgical procedures were performed, consisting of 314 neurotisations (250 spinal accessory, 14 plexo-plexal, 21 intercostal, 21 phrenic, 4 cervical plexus, 1 long thoracic, and 3 neuromuscular), 38 neurolyses, 23 nerve grafting, 16 free muscle transfers combined with neurotisations, and 30 musculotendinous transfers. Motor functional recovery of patients followed up for more than 2 years was evaluated. Nerve grafting gave 82% good (more than MRC grade 3) and 18% fair and poor recovery. Neurolysis gave 69% good and 31% fair and poor recovery. In patients with neurotisation, the spinal accessory (to suprascapular, axillary, and musculotaneous) intercostal (to musculotaneous), phrenic (to suprascapular, axillary, and musculocutaneous), and plexo- plexal methods gave a significant number of good results. Language: en

Brachial plexus injury in Thailand: a report of 520 cases.

https://www.hand.theclinics.com/article/S0749-0712(04)00090-3/pdf

Brachial plexus injuries in the adult. nerve transfers: the Siriraj Hospital experience

Adult brachial plexus injury: evaluation and management.

A paraspinal compartment pressure measurement was taken in 20 volunteers (a) to establish the normal compartment pressure in a series of body postures at rest and (b) to determine the difference in paraspinal compartment pressure during weight-lifting (40 pounds) exercise between straight back lifting and straight knee lifting. The measurement at rest showed a significant elevation of pressure in the sitting position compared with lying, standing, and bending positions. No significant difference in pressure was found between the two kinds of lifting exercises.

Panupan Songcharoen

Papers

Spinal accessory neurotization for restoration of elbow flexion in avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus

Brachial plexus injury in Thailand: a report of 520 cases.

Brachial plexus injuries in the adult. nerve transfers: the Siriraj Hospital experience

Adult brachial plexus injury: evaluation and management.

Lumbar paraspinal compartment pressure in back muscle exercise