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Updated: Sep 29, 2026
Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: August 15, 2019
Patient outcome after surgical management of an accessory nerve injury
Christine B Novak1, Susan E Mackinnon
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Objective:
This study assessed patient outcome following surgical reconstruction of the accessory nerve after an iatrogenic injury.
Study Design:
A retrospective chart review of 8 patients was performed.
Results:
There were 3 men and 5 women in the study, and the mean time between injury and nerve graft/repair surgery was 5 months. Four injuries were sustained during a lymph node biopsy. Electromyography revealed a complete accessory nerve injury in all cases. In 6 cases, a nerve graft was required (mean length, 3.6 cm), and in 2 cases, a direct nerve repair was possible. The trapezius muscle was successfully reinnervated in all cases. In total, full shoulder abduction was achieved in 6 cases; in the remaining 2 cases, the patients achieved shoulder abduction to 90 degrees.
Conclusion:
Functional deficit after accessory nerve injury is significant. Nerve graft/repair reconstruction reliably yields a satisfactory result, providing good scapular rotation and thus good shoulder function.
