title: Median nerve fascicle transfer versus ulnar nerve fascicle transfer to the biceps motor branch in C5-C6 and C5-C7 brachial plexus injuries: nonrandomized prospective study of 23 consecutive patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to observe whether the results of the median nerve fascicle transfer to the biceps are equivalent to the classical ulnar nerve fascicle transfer, in terms of elbow flexion strength and donor nerve morbidity. Twenty-five consecutive patients were operated between March 2007 and July 2013. The patients were divided into two groups. In Group 1 (n = 8), the patients received an ulnar nerve fascicle transfer to the biceps motor branch. In Group 2 (n = 15), the patients received a median nerve fascicle transfer to the biceps motor branch. Two patients with follow-up less than six months were excluded. Both groups were similar regarding age (P = 0.070), interval of injury (P = 0.185), and follow-up period (P = 0.477). Elbow flexion against gravity was achieved in 7 of 8 (87.5%) patients in Group 1, versus 14 of 15 (93.3%) patients in Group 2 (P = 1.000). The level of injury (C5-C6 or C5-C7) did not affect anti-gravity elbow flexion recovery in both the groups (P = 1.000). It was concluded that the median nerve fascicle transfer to the biceps is as good as the ulnar nerve fascicle transfer, even in C5-C7 injuries.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas, da Faculdade de Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Hospital Estadual Mario Covas, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alvaro Baik
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Renata Gregorio
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Paulos
authors.forename: Marcelo Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Resende
authors.forename: Leandro Yoshinobu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrenti
authors.forename: Teng Hsiang
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolliger Neto
authors.forename: Rames
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattar Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D055815:Young Adult