Restoration of elbow flexion by complete latissimus dorsi muscle transposition

Flexor-plasty of the elbow has been performed using either a tubed complete latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous transposition in eight patients, six of whom had brachial plexus palsy and two traumatic loss of the anterior brachial musculature and overlying soft tissue. The range of follow-up was from one to eight years. When the postoperative results were evaluated according to the criteria of Segal (1959), the results were excellent in four cases and good in three, with one failure. The indications, operative technique and results are discussed.