title: Two-level motor nerve transfer for the treatment of long thoracic nerve palsy.
abstract: The authors report a case of long thoracic nerve (LTN) palsy treated with two-level motor nerve transfers of a pectoral fascicle of the middle trunk, and a branch of the thoracodorsal nerve. This procedure resulted in near-total improvement of the winged scapula deformity, and a return of excellent shoulder function. A detailed account of the postoperative physical therapy regimen is included, as this critical component of the favorable result cannot be overlooked. This case establishes the two-level motor nerve transfer as a new option for treating LTN palsy, and demonstrates that nerve transfers should be considered in the therapeutic algorithm of an idiopathic mononeuritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Wilson Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pet
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nicoson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Lorna C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome