Muscle transfers in brachial plexus lesions

The concept of reconstruction to regain lost function after brachial plexus lesions has to be as broad and complex as possible. We have been exploring wider and more novel clinical concepts at the Clinic of Plastic, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical School of Hannover. Our ideas are supported by experience in 160 patients. We have attempted to combine the use of a vascularized nerve graft and a microvascularly-transferred autologous muscle. Patients undergoing the procedures have included those with late complete root avulsions and no functional return, as well as previously operated cases with poor recovery of biceps, wrist, and forearm function. The surgery is divided into two stages. In the first stage, the ulnar nerve is prepared as a vascularized nerve graft and is sutured to intercostal nerves 3 to 5 or 6. In stage 2, when the Tinel sign reaches the distal ends of the ulnar nerve graft (about six to eight months later), the latissimus dorsi muscle is harvested. The muscle is then placed as far distally as possible in the forearm and sutured to the deep finger flexors and flexor pollicis longus. Proximally, the insertion is performed similarly to Steindler's method. The vessels are connected to the brachial artery and vein and the thoracodorsal nerve is sutured to the graft. This method provides flexion of both the fingers and the elbow.