title: The use of thoracodorsal nerve transfer in restoration of irreparable C5 and C6 spinal nerve lesions.
abstract: There are only a few reports on the use of thoracodorsal nerve (TDN) transfer to the musculocutaneous or axillary nerves in cases of directly irreparable brachial plexus injuries. In this study, we analysed outcome and time-course of recovery in correlation with recipient nerves and type of nerve transfer (isolated or in combination with other collateral branches) for 27 patients with transfer to the musculocutaneous or axillary nerves. Using this nerve as donor, we obtained useful functional recovery in all 12 cases for the musculocutaneous nerve, and in 14 (93.3%) of 15 nerve transfers for the axillary nerve. Although, we found no significant statistical difference between analysed patients according to the percentage of recoveries and mean values, we established a better quality and shorter time of recovery for the musculocutaneous nerve. According to obtained results, we consider that transfer may be a valuable method in reconstruction after directly irreparable C5 and C6 spinal nerve lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Visegradska 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Samardzic
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Grujicic
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Rasulic
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Milicic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D001365:Axilla / Q000294:innervation; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009138:Musculocutaneous Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome