title: Surgical treatment of a long thoracic nerve palsy.
abstract: A 17-year-old patient presented with a long thoracic nerve palsy following an idiopathic onset of weakness to the serratus anterior muscle. With no evidence of recovery 3.5 months following onset of serratus anterior weakness, the patient underwent a thoracodorsal to long thoracic nerve transfer to reinnervate the serratus anterior muscle. Follow-up examination 6.5 years following the nerve transfer revealed no scapular winging, full range of motion of the shoulder and no reported functional shoulder restriction. We conclude that a thoracodorsal to long thoracic nerve transfer results in good functional recovery of the serratus anterior muscle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Christine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D010243:Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012540:Scapula / Q000294:innervation; D012782:Shoulder / Q000294:innervation; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000293:injuries