Free functional muscle transfer provides an option for functional restoration when nerve reconstruction and tendon transfers are not feasible. To ensure a successful outcome, many factors need to be optimized, including proper patient selection, timing of intervention, donor muscle and motor nerve selection, optimal microneurovascular technique and tension setting, proper postoperative management, and appropriate rehabilitation. Functional outcomes of various applications to the upper extremity and the authors' algorithm for the use of free functional muscle transfer are also included in this article.
Keywords: Brachial plexus; Free tissue transfer; Intercostal nerves; Microsurgery; Muscle transfer; Nerve graft; Nerve regeneration; Nerve transfer.
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