Triceps to biceps transfer for established brachial plexus palsy

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Brachial plexus injuries can lead to significant functional deficits, including loss of elbow flexion.
• Restoring elbow flexion is crucial for upper extremity function and patient independence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of triceps transfer in patients with old brachial plexus injuries.
• To discuss patient selection criteria and the advantages of triceps transfer for functional restoration.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of seven patients undergoing triceps transfer for sequelae of brachial plexus injury.
• Assessment of functional improvement, focusing on elbow flexion strength and range of motion.

Main Results:

• All seven patients demonstrated useful functional improvement after triceps transfer.
• A good range of powerful elbow flexion was achieved in all patients.
• Five out of seven patients could successfully bring their hand to their mouth.

Conclusions:

• Triceps transfer is an effective surgical option for restoring elbow flexion in select patients with brachial plexus injuries.
• Careful patient selection is important to maximize the benefits of triceps transfer.
• The procedure offers significant functional advantages for activities of daily living.