Current status of brachial plexus reconstruction: restoration of hand function.
Although restoration of hand function in brachial plexus patients remains a formidable challenge, the past decade has brought significant improvement in our ability to restore hand function even in the most severe cases. Today, the following options are available to restore hand function: (1) direct nerve repair; (2) nerve grafting; (3) nerve transfers from intraplexal or extraplexal sources; (4) tendon transfers (and tenodesis); (5) free functioning muscle transfer; (6) arthrodesis; and (7) a combination of these techniques. Opportunity for future improvement exists, and the next decade will no doubt bring further innovation.
Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reconstructive et Chirurgie de la main, Clinique de Longeraie, Université de Lausanne, 9 Avenue de la Gare, CH-1003 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Laurent
L
Wehrli
Chantal
C
Bonnard
Dimitri J
DJ
Anastakis
D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009142:Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*