Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
09:34
Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: August 15, 2019
Nerve transfers for severe nerve injury
Bassam M J Addas1, Rajiv Midha
1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
|December 10, 2008
Summary
Nerve transfers repair severe nerve injuries by connecting a donor nerve to a recipient nerve, promoting muscle reinnervation. Cortical plasticity aids functional recovery after these procedures, particularly for brachial plexus injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Severe nerve injuries, especially brachial plexus injuries, often involve avulsed spinal nerve roots.
- Nerve transfers offer a viable solution for repairing such complex injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline indications and principles for nerve transfer procedures.
- To review donor nerves used in nerve transfers for clinical nerve injuries.
- To emphasize specific transfers for brachial plexus injuries and discuss outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Coaptation of a donor nerve to a denervated recipient nerve.
- Utilizing cortical plasticity for functional recovery.
- Surveying intraplexal and extraplexal donor nerves for repair.
Main Results:
- Nerve transfers facilitate reinnervation of end-organs via donated axons.
- Cortical plasticity is crucial for functional recovery in reinnervated muscles.
- Existing literature provides expected clinical outcomes for various nerve transfers.
Conclusions:
- Nerve transfers are increasingly utilized for severe nerve injuries, including brachial plexus avulsions.
- The technique relies on successful axonal reinnervation and central nervous system adaptation.
- This article serves as a guide to nerve transfer techniques and their application in clinical practice.
