Hemihypoglossal nerve transfer in brachial plexus repair: technique and results.
OBJECTIVE
In multiple avulsions of the brachial plexus, the search for extraplexal donor nerves in the hope of achieving motor neurotization is a major goal. We explored the possibility of using the hypoglossal nerve as a transfer point to reanimate muscles in the upper limb.


METHODS
The hypoglossal nerve was used as a donor nerve for neurotization in seven patients with avulsive injuries of the brachial plexus. The surgical technique--an end-to-side microsuture using approximately half of the nerve fascicles--is basically the same as that used in the hypoglossal nerve-facial nerve jump graft, which is a well-known technique in facial nerve reanimation. The recipient nerves were the suprascapular (two patients), the musculocutaneous (one patient), the posterior division of the upper trunk (two patients), and the medial contribution to the median nerve (two patients).


RESULTS
In spite of a connection documented by electromyography and selective activation in three of seven patients, the functional results in our patients were extremely disappointing: no patient had an outcome better than M1 in the reinnervated muscles.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique was of no help to the patients and thus has been abandoned at our institution.
Ferraresi
Stefano
S
Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy. nchro@libero.it
Garozzo
Debora
D
Ravenni
Roberta
R
Dainese
Rinaldo
R
De Grandis
Domenico
D
Buffatti
Paolo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome