Long Thoracic Nerve Transfer for Children With Brachial Plexus Injuries

The transfer of intraplexal and extraplexal nerves for restoration of function in children with traumatic and birth brachial plexus palsies has become well accepted. Little has been written about using the long thoracic nerve (LTN) as a donor in reanimation of the upper extremity. The authors present a case series of nerve transfers using the LTN as a donor in brachial plexus injury.

A retrospective chart review was performed over a 10-year period at a single institution. The primary outcome measure was the active movement scale.

Fourteen patients were included in the study: 10 birth injury patients and 4 blunt trauma patients. Average follow-up time was 21.3 and 10.75 months, respectively. The best outcomes were seen when the LTN was used for reinnervation of the obturator nerve in free functioning muscle transfers. The next most successful recipients were the musculocutaneous and axillary nerves. Outcomes were poor in transfers to the posterior interosseous fascicles of the radial nerve and the radial nerve branches to the triceps.

The LTN may be a potential nerve donor for musculocutaneous or axillary nerve reinnervation in patients with brachial plexus injuries when other donors are not available during a primary plexus reconstruction. However, the best use may be for delayed neurotization of a free functioning muscle transfer after the initial plexus reconstruction has failed and no other donors are available.

Level IV-therapeutic study.