Origination of the Muscular Branches of the Median Nerve

Neurosurgery ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Xu ◽  
Zhen Dong ◽  
Cheng-Gang Zhang ◽  
Yi Zhu ◽  
Dong Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Brachial Plexus Injury ◽  
Electrophysiological Study ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Motor Branch ◽  
Lower Trunk ◽  
Pronator Teres ◽  
Finger Flexion ◽  
Flexor Digitorum

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: In lower brachial plexus injury, finger flexion after brachialis motor branch transfer is relatively weak. We sought to screen potential branches of the median nerve from the upper trunk for strengthening finger flexion in addition to the brachialis motor branch. However, the spinal origin of the muscular branches of the median nerve based on electrophysiological study was unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the spinal origin of the muscular branches of the median nerve. METHODS: An intraoperative electrophysiological study was carried out in 18 patients who underwent contralateral C7 nerve transfer. After exposure of the brachial plexus nerve roots on the healthy side, the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of each median nerve-innervated muscle was recorded while the different nerve roots were stimulated. RESULTS: The pronator teres received fibers from C5, C6, and C7. It had more contribution from C5 and C6 than from C7 (P < .05). The flexor carpi radialis was innervated mainly by C6 and C7. The nerve branches of the palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis stemmed primarily from C7 and the lower trunk, and no significant difference was found between them (P > .05). The flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus, and abductor pollicis brevis were innervated predominantly by the lower trunk (P < .05). CONCLUSION: This electrophysiological study indicates that the pronator teres branch might be the most feasible alternative donor nerve to supplement the brachialis motor branch and strengthen finger flexion after lower brachial plexus injury.

Multiple nerve and tendon transfers: a new strategy for restoring hand function in a patient with C7–T1 brachial plexus avulsions

2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Xu ◽  
Zhen Dong ◽  
Cheng-Gang Zhang ◽  
Yu-Dong Gu
Keyword(s):  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Motor Branch ◽  
Pronator Teres ◽  
Nerve Transfers ◽  
Finger Flexion ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Flexor Digitorum ◽  
Flexion Strength

C7–T1 brachial plexus palsies result in a loss of finger motion and hand function. The authors have observed that finger flexion motion can be recovered after a brachialis motor branch transfer. However, finger flexion strength after this procedure merely corresponds to Medical Research Council Grades M2–M3, lowering the grip strength and practical value of the reconstructed hand. Therefore, they used 2 donor nerves and accomplished double nerve transfers for stronger finger flexion. In a patient with a C7–T1 brachial plexus injury, they transferred the pronator teres branch to the anterior interosseous nerve and the brachialis motor branch to the flexor digitorum superficialis branch for reinnervation of full finger flexors. Additionally, the supinator motor branch was transferred for finger extension, and the brachioradialis muscle was used for thumb opposition recovery. Through this new strategy, the patient could successfully accomplish grasping and pinching motions. Moreover, compared with previous cases, the patient in the present case achieved stronger finger flexion and grip strength, suggesting practical improvements to the reconstructed hand.

A rare variation in the formation of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus its embryological basis and clinical importance - a case report

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
N Satyanarayana ◽  
R Guha ◽  
P Sunitha ◽  
GN Reddy ◽  
G Praveen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Rare Variation ◽  
Lower Trunk ◽  
Male Cadaver ◽  
The Right

Brachial plexus is the plexus of nerves, that supplies the upper limb.Variations in the branches of brachial plexus are common but variations in the roots and trunks are very rare. Here, we report one of the such rare variations in the formations of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus in the right upper limb of a male cadaver. In the present case the lower trunk was formed by the union of ventral rami of C7,C8 and T1 nerve roots. The middle trunk was absent. Upper trunk formation was normal. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2011,Vol-6,No-4, 49-52 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v6i4.6727

The Diagnostic Value of MRI in Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. OCHI ◽  
Y. IKUTA ◽  
M. WATANABE ◽  
K. KIMOR ◽  
K. ITOH
Keyword(s):  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Nerve Root ◽  
Brachial Plexus Injury ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Surgical Exploration ◽  
Nerve Root Avulsion ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
The Individual

Findings in 34 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury documented by surgical exploration and intra-operative somatosensory-evoked potentials were correlated with findings on myelography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether MRI can identify nerve root avulsion. The coronal and sagittal planes were not able to demonstrate avulsion of the individual nerve roots. The axial and axial oblique planes did provide useful information to determine which nerve root was avulsed in the upper plexus, although it was difficult to clearly delineate the lower cervical rootlets. The accuracy of MRI was 73% for C5 and 64% for C6 and that of myelograpby 63% for C5 and 64% for C6. Thus, the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for upper nerve roots was slightly superior to myelography. Although its primary diagnostic value is limited to the upper nerve roots whose avulsion is relatively difficult to diagnose by myelography, MRI can provide useful guidance in the waiting period prior to surgical exploration after brachial plexus injury.

scholarly journals Median Nerve Variation: A Complete Spin before Terminal Branching

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. e1-e4
Author(s):  
Amgad S. Hanna ◽  
Zhikui Wei ◽  
Barbara A. Hanna
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Distal Forearm ◽  
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis ◽  
Anatomical Variant ◽  
Motor Branch ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Flexor Digitorum

AbstractMedian nerve anatomy is of great interest to clinicians and scientists given the importance of this nerve and its association with diseases. A rare anatomical variant of the median nerve in the distal forearm and wrist was discovered during a cadaveric dissection. The median nerve was deep to the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) in the carpal tunnel. It underwent a 360-degree spin before emerging at the lateral edge of FDS. The recurrent motor branch moved from medial to lateral on the deep surface of the median nerve, as it approached the distal carpal tunnel. This variant doesn't fall into any of Lanz's four groups of median nerve anomalies. We propose a fifth group that involves variations in the course of the median nerve. This report underscores the importance of recognizing variants of the median nerve anatomy in the forearm and wrist during surgical interventions, such as for carpal tunnel syndrome.

scholarly journals Management of Brachial Plexus Injury in Adults

2008 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Songcharoen
Keyword(s):  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Brachial Plexus Injury ◽  
Nerve Repair ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Nerve Transfer ◽  
Nerve Grafting ◽  
Muscle Transfer ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Elbow Function ◽  
Motorcycle Accidents

Brachial plexus injury in adults is commonly caused by motorcycle accidents. Surgical management consists of nerve repair and nerve grafting for extraforaminal nerve root or trunk injury, and of neurotization or nerve transfer for nerve roots avulsion. In general, the results regarding restoration of shoulder and elbow function are good but reinnervation of the forearm muscles is less than safisfactory in respect to restoration of hand function. Functioning free muscle transfer in combination with selective nerve transfer is a reasonable alternative surgical procedure.

Role of tacrolimus in return of hand function after brachial plexus injury in a lung transplantation patient

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. e233788
Author(s):  
Tiam M Saffari ◽  
Christopher J Arendt ◽  
Robert J Spinner ◽  
Alexander Y Shin
Keyword(s):  
Lung Transplantation ◽  
Brachial Plexus ◽  
Brachial Plexus Injury ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Lower Trunk ◽  
Bilateral Lung Transplantation ◽  
Bilateral Lung ◽  
Transplantation Patient

We report a patient who has been on tacrolimus for bilateral lung transplantation and presented with a brachial plexus injury (BPI), with unusual improvement of lower trunk innervated hand function. The lower trunk injury with resultant left hand paralysis had developed after his sternotomy 18 months ago. He has been treated with tacrolimus as part of his immunosuppression protocol since the surgery, without severe side effects. Physical examination at 18 months demonstrated unusual excellent grip pattern and full opposition of his thumb with slight claw deformity of his ulnar two digits. While the neurotoxic effects of tacrolimus are more emphasised, the neuroregenerative properties have been recently explored. The recovery in this patient is unique and unusual after BPI and is most likely as a result of the low dose tacrolimus treatment.

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