Reconstruction of shoulder and elbow function using multiple muscle transfers for cervical spondylotic amyotrophy

This was a retrospective study of 8 patients with cervical spondylotic amyotrophy who underwent multiple muscle transfers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate results of multiple muscle transfers about the shoulder and elbow in patients with cervical spondylotic amyotrophy.

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy is characterized by severe muscle atrophy of the shoulder girdle and elbow. Even after cervical spine surgery, many patients have poor shoulder and elbow function.

Multiple muscle transfer procedures including the transfer of trapezius, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi muscles, and the Steindler procedure for reconstruction of shoulder and elbow function were performed in 8 patients with cervical spondylotic amyotrophy. Patients were evaluated at a mean of 18.2 months (range, 5-75 mo).

All 8 patients obtained satisfactory functional recovery with improvement of active range of motion without any systemic and local complications within 3 to 6 months postoperatively. Patients at the last follow-up had obtained a mean of 91° of shoulder abduction, 111° of shoulder flexion, 23° of external rotation and 110° of elbow flexion. Disability scores (Japanese version) of the arm, shoulder, and hand improved by a mean of 28 points.

Multiple muscle transfers can improve shoulder and elbow function in cervical spondylotic amyotrophy, in cases of not only poor outcome after cervical surgery, but also in advanced paralysis. It is a useful set of procedures even in old patients, and provides definitive functional improvement of shoulder and elbow function from 3 to 6 months.

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