Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Amyotrophy With Nerve Transfers

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy is characterized by severe, proximal upper extremity weakness including an inability to abduct the shoulder and flex the elbow. Treatment using both medical and surgical decompression approaches has produced variable results. This paper reports the use of nerve transfers (spinal accessory to suprascapular, flexor carpi ulnaris fascicle of ulnar to biceps motor branch, radial nerve branch to triceps to axillary) to restore shoulder and elbow function in a case of unilateral cervical spondylotic amyotrophy involving C5 and C6 myotomes. Evidence of regeneration was observed on electromyography as well as clinically at 5 months postoperatively. At 3 years after surgery, recovery of elbow flexion and shoulder abduction was Medical Research Council grade 4/5 with improved external rotation and considerably improved patient-rated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores. We propose that nerve transfers be considered along with other reconstruction modalities in the treatment of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy.