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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: August 15, 2019
[Reconstruction of isolated axillary nerve lesions: clinical and electrophysiological long-term results]
1Universitätsspital Zürich, Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie, Zürich, Schweiz. urs.hug@ksl.ch
Purpose:
The purpose of this retrospective study was the clinical and electrophysiological assessment of long-term results following surgical treatment of isolated axillary nerve lesions.
Patients And Method:
10 patients, who underwent axillary nerve reconstruction using a nerve graft (80%) or a neurolysis alone (20%), with a follow-up period of 6.7 years (1.6-10.8 years) on average, were included in the study. In addition to the clinical examination, we examined reinnervation by electrophysiological methods and analysed their correlation to clinical results.
Results:
30% of the patients had muscle strength of M5 and full active range of motion of 180°, 40% reached M4 and averaged 170° (80-180°), 30% of the patients M3 and 65° (40-90°). In patients with M5, muscle compound action potential averaged 40% of the contralateral side (21-62%), in patients with M4 36% (29-58%), and in patients with M3 7% (3-11%). Good results were associated with younger patient age, a short delay prior to the operation and neurolysis alone (indicated by intraoperative electroneurography).
Conclusion:
The good results confirm our treatment algorithm for isolated axillary nerve lesions by neurolysis alone or reconstruction with autologous nerve transplantation. Measurement of compound muscle action potential is a valuable addition to difficult clinical assessment, as its amplitude enables quantification of axillary nerve recovery.
