Combined proximal nerve graft and distal nerve transfer for a posterior cord brachial plexus injury

J Neurosurg. 2013 Jan;118(1):155-9. doi: 10.3171/2012.10.JNS12425. Epub 2012 Nov 9.

Abstract

The treatment of patients with prolonged denervation from a posterior cord brachial plexus injury is challenging and no management guidelines exist to follow. The authors describe the case of a 26-year-old man who presented to our clinic for treatment 11 months after suffering a high-energy injury to the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. A combined 9-cm proximal cable nerve graft procedure and a pronator branch to the posterior interosseous nerve transfer were performed. Satisfactory deltoid, triceps, wrist, and finger extensor recovery was noted 3 years after surgery. Patients with prolonged denervation from posterior cord injuries can be successfully treated with a combination of a proximal nerve graft and a distal nerve transfer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brachial Plexus / injuries*
  • Brachial Plexus / surgery*
  • Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nerve Transfer / methods*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
  • Treatment Outcome