Anterior Interosseous–to–Ulnar Motor Nerve Transfers: A Single Center’s Experience in Restoring Intrinsic Hand Function

Hand ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 155894472092848
Author(s):  
Graham J. McLeod ◽  
Blair R. Peters ◽  
Tanis Quaife ◽  
Tod A. Clark ◽  
Jennifer L. Giuffre

Background: Transfer of the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) into the ulnar motor branch improves intrinsic hand function in patients with high ulnar nerve injuries. We report our outcomes of this nerve transfer and hypothesize that any improvement in intrinsic hand function is beneficial to patients. Methods: A retrospective review of all AIN-to-ulnar motor nerve transfers, including both supercharged end-to-side (SETS) and end-to-end (ETE) transfers, from 2011 to 2018 performed by 2 surgeons was conducted. All adult patients who underwent this nerve transfer for any reason with greater than 6 months’ follow-up and completed charts were included. Primary outcome measures were motor function using the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) grading system and subjective satisfaction with surgery using a visual analog scale. Secondary outcome measures included complications and donor site deficits. Results: Of the 57 patients who underwent nerve transfer, 32 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average follow-up and average time to surgery were 12 and 15.6 months, respectively. The overall average BMRC score was 2.9/5, with a trend toward better recovery in patients who received earlier surgery (<12 months = BMRC 3.7, ≥12 months = BMRC 2.2; P < .01). Patients with an SETS transfer had better results that those with an ETE transfer (SETS = 3.2, ETE = 2.6). There were no donor deficits after operation. One patient developed complex regional pain syndrome. Conclusions: Patients with earlier surgery and an in-continuity nerve (receiving an SETS transfer) showed improved recovery with a higher BMRC grade compared with those who underwent later surgery. Any improvements in intrinsic hand function would be beneficial to patients.

Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110635
Author(s):  
Aleixo Abreu Tanure ◽  
Luis Guilherme Rosifini Alves Rezende ◽  
Ana Carolina Pazim ◽  
Marcel Leal Ribeiro

Hirayama disease is a rare condition of cervical myelopathy. Its early identification and correction can optimize functional outcomes. However, late presentation and some more severe cases may be associated with loss of hand function. Among the cases described, there are no reports of nerve transfers for this condition. We presented the first case report of a Hirayama disease of isolated ulnar nerve impairment managed with nerve transfer. Electroneuromyography showed isolated preganglionic involvement of C7, C8, and T1, with no sensory changes. The patient underwent nerve transfer with anterior interosseous nerve to ulnar nerve supercharge end-to-side, recovering hand function in 7 months.


2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (02) ◽  
pp. 254-259
Author(s):  
Alex Muset Lara ◽  
Anil Bhatia ◽  
Jorge Clifton Correa ◽  
Tarek Abdalla El Gammal

Abstract Introduction There is consensus on the need for early microsurgical reconstruction in birth palsies involving three or more roots, that is, extensive partial palsies and total palsies. The fundamental principles of these operations are complete exploration and judicious use of the ruptured stumps by nerve grafting to suitable distal targets. The frequent observation of root avulsions in such cases makes it imperative to look for extraplexual nerve donors for some functions. Intercostal nerves are readily available in such patients. Materials and Methods This is a study of 50 patients of extensive partial and total birth palsies operated upon by the senior author between 1995 and 2010. These included 33 patients with total palsies, 16 patients with near total palsies, and one patient with C56 deficit (operated upon more than 20 years ago). These children were all operated upon between 3 and 6 months of age, except for two patients in whom surgery was delayed till a year due to the phrenic nerve deficit noted at birth. Four intercostal nerves were transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) by direct approximation with fibrin glue. Results No respiratory complication was noted from the intercostal harvest. The follow-up ranged from 8 to 20 years (mean 10 years). As many as 48 of the 50 patients regained fully independent elbow flexion. In two cases, the procedure failed completely and had to be salvaged with a free functioning muscle transfer and reuse of the intercostal nerves. Conclusion Intercostal nerve transfers can be relied upon for restoration of elbow flexion in birth palsies. The ruptured roots can then be utilized for augmenting shoulder function in partial palsies or for hand function in total palsies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 861-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. Satbhai ◽  
K. Doi ◽  
Y. Hattori ◽  
S. Sakamoto

The importance of external rotation of the shoulder is well accepted. Patients with inadequate recovery of shoulder function after nerve transfers for a brachial plexus injury have difficulty in using their reconstructed limb. The options for secondary procedures to improve shoulder function are often limited, especially if the spinal accessory nerve has been used earlier for nerve transfer or as a donor nerve for a free functioning muscle transfer. We have used the contralateral lower trapezius transfer to the infraspinatus in three cases, to restore shoulder external rotation. All patients had significant improvement in shoulder external rotation (mean 97°; range 80°–110°) and improved disability of the arm, shoulder and hand scores. The rotation occurred mainly at the glenohumeral joint, and was independent of the donor side. All patients were greatly satisfied with the outcome. Contralateral lower trapezius transfer appears to help in overall improvement of shoulder function by stabilizing the scapula. The results have remained stable after mean follow-up of 58 months (range 12–86). No donor site deficit was seen in any patient.


2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayme Augusto Bertelli ◽  
Paulo Roberto Kechele ◽  
Marcos Antonio Santos ◽  
Hamilton Duarte ◽  
Marcos Flávio Ghizoni

Object Grafting or nerve transfers to the axillary nerve have been performed using a deltopectoral approach and/or a posterior arm approach. In this report, the surgical anatomy of the axillary nerve was studied with the goal of repairing the nerve through an axillary access. Methods The axillary nerve was bilaterally dissected in 10 embalmed cadavers to study its variations. Three patients with axillary nerve injuries then underwent surgical repair through an axillary access; the axillary nerve was repaired by transfer of the triceps long head motor branch. Results At the lateral margin of the subscapularis muscle, the axillary nerve was found in the center of a triangle bounded medially by the subscapular artery, laterally by the latissimus dorsi tendon, and cephalad by the posterior circumflex humeral artery. At the entrance of the quadrangular space, the axillary nerve divisions were loosely connected to each other, and could be clearly separated and correctly identified. Surgery for the axillary nerve repair through the axillary access was straightforward. Eighteen months after surgery, all three patients had recovered deltoid strength to a score of M4 on the Medical Research Council scale and had improved abduction strength by 50%. No deficit was evident in elbow extension. Conclusions The axillary nerve and its branches can be safely dissected and repaired by triceps motor nerve transfer through an axillary access.


2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (suppl_5) ◽  
pp. ONS333-ONS339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayme A. Bertelli ◽  
Marcos A. Santos ◽  
Paulo R. Kechele ◽  
Marcos F. Ghizoni ◽  
Hamilton Duarte

AbstractObjective:The pattern of triceps innervation is complex and, as yet, has not been fully elucidated. The purposes of this study were 1) to clarify the anatomy of the triceps motor branches, and 2) to evaluate their possible uses as a donor or receiver for nerve transfer.Methods:The radial nerve and its motor and cutaneous branches were bilaterally dissected from the axilla and posterior arm regions of 10 embalmed cadavers.Results:A single branch innervates the triceps long head, whereas double innervation was identified for the lateral and medial heads. The upper branch to the lateral head originated from the radial nerve, whereas the lower branch to the lateral head stemmed from the lower medial head motor branch, which ultimately innervated the anconeus muscle. Both the long head and the upper medial head motor branches originated in the axillary region in the vicinity of the latissimus dorsi tendon.Conclusion:Each of the triceps’ motor branches might be used as a donor for transfer. The triceps long head motor branch should be used preferentially when the intention is to establish triceps reinnervation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Urquhart ◽  
Osama A. Alrehaili ◽  
Charles G. Fisher ◽  
Alyssa Fleming ◽  
Parham Rasoulinejad ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEA multicenter, prospective, randomized equivalence trial comparing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) to no orthosis (NO) in the treatment of acute AO Type A3 thoracolumbar burst fractures was recently conducted and demonstrated that the two treatments following an otherwise similar management protocol are equivalent at 3 months postinjury. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there was a difference in long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes between the patients treated with and those treated without a TLSO. Here, the authors present the 5- to 10-year outcomes (mean follow-up 7.9 ± 1.1 years) of the patients at a single site from the original multicenter trial.METHODSBetween July 2002 and January 2009, a total of 96 subjects were enrolled in the primary trial and randomized to two groups: TLSO or NO. Subjects were enrolled if they had an AO Type A3 burst fracture between T-10 and L-3 within the previous 72 hours, kyphotic deformity < 35°, no neurological deficit, and an age of 16–60 years old. The present study represents a subset of those patients: 16 in the TLSO group and 20 in the NO group. The primary outcome measure was the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score at the last 5- to 10-year follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included kyphosis, satisfaction, the Numeric Rating Scale for back pain, and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental and Physical Component Summary (MCS and PCS) scores. In the original study, outcome measures were administered at admission and 2 and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1 and 2 years after injury; in the present extended follow-up study, the outcome measures were administered 5–10 years postinjury. Treatment comparison between patients in the TLSO group and those in the NO group was performed at the latest available follow-up, and the time-weighted average treatment effect was determined using a mixed-effects model of longitudinal regression for repeated measures averaged over all time periods. Missing data were assumed to be missing at random and were replaced with a set of plausible values derived using a multiple imputation procedure.RESULTSThe RMDQ score at 5–10 years postinjury was 3.6 ± 0.9 (mean ± SE) for the TLSO group and 4.8 ± 1.5 for the NO group (p = 0.486, 95% CI −2.3 to 4.8). Average kyphosis was 18.3° ± 2.2° for the TLSO group and 18.6° ± 3.8° for the NO group (p = 0.934, 95% CI −7.8 to 8.5). No differences were found between the NO and TLSO groups with time-weighted average treatment effects for RMDQ 1.9 (95% CI −1.5 to 5.2), for PCS −2.5 (95% CI −7.9 to 3.0), for MCS −1.2 (95% CI −6.7 to 4.2) and for average pain 0.9 (95% CI −0.5 to 2.2).CONCLUSIONSCompared with patients treated with a TLSO, patients treated using early mobilization without orthosis maintain similar pain relief and improvement in function for 5–10 years.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Hoskins ◽  
Johnny Rayner ◽  
Rohan Sheehy ◽  
Harry Claireaux ◽  
Roger Bingham ◽  
...  

Introduction: High-energy femoral neck fractures in young patients can be devastating, with the risk of osteonecrosis, nonunion, malunion and lifelong morbidity. The aim of this study is to define the effects of patient, fracture and surgical factors on the outcome of high-energy femoral neck fractures in patients aged from 15 to 50 years. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of high-energy femoral neck fractures in patients aged 15–50 managed surgically at a Level 1 Trauma Centre, using a prospectively recorded trauma database. Low energy trauma (including falls from <1 m), medical conditions adversely affecting bone density, and pathological fractures were excluded. A clinical and radiological review was performed. The primary outcome measures were the development of osteonecrosis or nonunion leading to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary outcome measures included osteotomy or other surgical procedures, quality of reduction and malunion. Results: 32 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified between January 2008 and July 2015. The mean follow-up was 58.5 months (range 980–3,048 days). 3 patients (9.4%) required THA. No other surgical procedures were performed. None of the 29 other patients developed radiologically apparent osteonecrosis. Fracture type, displacement, anatomical reduction and fixation type were not statistically significant risk factors affecting these outcomes. For all patients, an average of 8% loss of femoral neck height and 10% femoral neck offset were seen. Conclusions: At a mean 4.9-year follow-up, the incidence of high-energy femoral neck fractures leading to THA was 9.4%, as a consequence of osteonecrosis or nonunion. Malunion was common.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e039239
Author(s):  
Ying Yue Huang ◽  
Chao Qiang Jiang ◽  
Lin Xu ◽  
Wei Sen Zhang ◽  
Feng Zhu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo examine the associations of change in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) over an average of 4 years with subsequent mortality risk in middle-aged to older Chinese.DesignProspective cohort study based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.SettingCommunity-based sample.Participants17 773 participants (12 956 women and 4817 men) aged 50+ years.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome measures were cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Causes of death were obtained via record linkage, and coded according to the International Classification of Diseases (tenth revision).Results1424 deaths (53.4% women) occurred in the 17 773 participants (mean age 61.2, SD 6.8 years) during an average follow-up of 7.8 (SD=1.5) years, and 97.7% of participants did not have an intention of weight loss . Compared with participants with stable BMI, participants with BMI loss (>5%), but not gain, had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.49, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.71), which was greatest in those who were underweight (HR=2.45, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.59). Similar patterns were found for WC. In contrast, for participants with a BMI of ≥27.5 kg/m2, BMI gain, versus stable BMI, was associated with 89% higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.89, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.88), 72% higher risk of CVD mortality (HR=1.72, 95% CI 0.80 to 3.72) and 2.27-fold risk of cancer mortality (HR=2.27, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.10).ConclusionIn older people, unintentional BMI/WC loss, especially in those who were underweight was associated with higher mortality risk. However, BMI gain in those with obesity showed excess risks of all-cause and cancer mortality, but not CVD mortality. Frequent monitoring of changes in body size can be used as an early warning for timely clinical investigations and interventions and is important to inform appropriate health management in older Chinese.


2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 738-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Chow ◽  
P. C. Ho ◽  
W. L. Tse ◽  
L. K. Hung

The treatment of hypoplastic thumb (modified Blauth’s type IIIb and IV) by pollicization is culturally unfavourable in the Chinese population and digit preservation is preferred. An innovative reconstruction method using a nonvascularized hemi-longitudinal metatarsal graft was performed in six cases with an average follow-up of 87.7 months. Overall hand function was good, as assessed using the Jebsen hand function test. Grip strength and pinch power were significantly weaker than the normal contralateral hand. There was no neurovascular or wound complication. The only donor site complication was a metatarsal fracture, which healed uneventfully with casting. There had been no permanent morbidity to the donor site, as all donor metatarsals hypertrophied and regained normal growth potentials. Linear growth of the transferred metatarsals was evident radiologically (average 1.5 mm/year). Free hemi-longitudinal metatarsal transfer is a feasible method with good functional outcome in the attainment of a 5-digit hand in patients with type IIIb/IV hypoplastic thumb.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Scott Graham ◽  
Brian J. Samsell ◽  
Allison Proffer ◽  
Mark A. Moore ◽  
Rafael A. Vega ◽  
...  

OBJECT Bone allografts used for interbody spinal fusion are often preserved through either freeze drying or lowtemperature freezing, each having disadvantages related to graft preparation time and material properties. In response, a glycerol preservation treatment has been developed to maintain the biomechanical properties of allografts at ambient temperatures, requiring no thawing or rehydration and minimal rinsing prior to implantation. The authors conducted a prospective randomized study to compare the clinical results of glycerol-preserved Cloward dowels and those of freezedried Cloward dowels in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The primary outcome measures were evidence of fusion and graft subsidence, and the secondary outcome measures included adverse events, pain, and neck disability scores. METHODS Of 106 patients, 53 (113 levels of surgery) were randomly assigned to the glycerol-preserved graft group and 53 (114 levels of surgery) to the freeze-dried graft group. Subsidence was assessed at 3 and 6 months after implantation. Evidence of fusion was evaluated radiographically at 6 months postimplantation. Subsidence was quantitatively assessed based on physical measurements obtained from radiographs by using calibrated comparators, whereas fusion was also evaluated visually. Surgeons were blinded to treatment type during visual and physical assessments of the patients and the radiographs. RESULTS No one in either group had evidence of complete nonunion according to radiographic evaluation at the 6-month follow-up. Average subsidence for all graft-treated levels was 2.11 mm for the glycerol-preserved group and 2.73 mm for the freeze-dried group at the 3-month follow-up and 2.13 and 2.83 mm at the 6-month follow-up, respectively. The 2 treatment groups were statistically equivalent (p = 0.2127 and 0.1705 for the 3- and 6-month follow-up, respectively). No differences were noted between the graft types in terms of adverse event incidence or severity. CONCLUSIONS Glycerol-preserved bone allografts exhibit fusion results and subsidence values similar to those of their freeze-dried counterparts, potentially more favorable biomechanical properties, and significantly shorter preparation times.


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