title: Neurotization to innervate the deltoid and biceps: 3 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience using direct muscle neurotization as a treatment adjunct during delayed surgical reconstruction for traumatic denervation injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients who had direct muscle neurotization were chosen from a consecutive series of patients undergoing reconstruction for brachial plexus injuries. The cases are presented in detail, including long-term clinical follow-up at 2, 5, and 10 years with accompanying postoperative electrodiagnostic studies. Postoperative motor strength using British Medical Research Council grading and active range of motion were retrospectively extracted from the clinical charts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Direct muscle neurotization was performed into the deltoid in 2 cases and into the biceps in 1 case after delays of up to 10 months from injury. Two patients had recovery of M4 strength, and the other patient had recovery of M3 strength. All 3 patients had evidence on electrodiagnostic studies of at least partial muscle reinnervation after neurotization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct muscle neurotization has shown promising results in numerous basic science investigations and a limited number of clinical cases. The current series provides additional clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence that direct muscle neurotization can successfully provide reinnervation, even after lengthy delays from injury to surgical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microsurgeons should consider direct muscle neurotization as a viable adjunct treatment and part of a comprehensive reconstructive plan, especially for injuries associated with avulsion of the distal nerve stump from its insertion into the muscle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. dyc@hss.edu
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dy
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitay
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Lana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000294:innervation*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries