title: Thoracodorsal nerve transfer for elbow flexion reconstruction in infraclavicular brachial plexus injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical results of thoracodorsal nerve (TDN) transfer to the biceps nerve for elbow flexion restoration in infraclavicular brachial plexus injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five male patients, mean age 33 years and affected with infraclavicular brachial plexus injuries, underwent a direct coaptation of the TDN to the nerve to the biceps an average of 8 months after injury. The procedure included the transfer of a branch of the TDN to the musculocutaneous nerve in 2 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients achieved M4 elbow flexion strength according to the British Medical Research Council scale at a mean follow-up of 22 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct TDN transfer seems to be a useful surgical procedure for restoring elbow flexion in patients with infraclavicular brachial plexus injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgery and Microsurgery, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of the South of Santa Catarina (Unisul), Tubarão, Brazil; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Governador Celso Ramos Hospital, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address: drsoldado@cirugiamanoinfantil.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soldado
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgery and Microsurgery, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of the South of Santa Catarina (Unisul), Tubarão, Brazil; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Governador Celso Ramos Hospital, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ghizoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgery and Microsurgery, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of the South of Santa Catarina (Unisul), Tubarão, Brazil; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Governador Celso Ramos Hospital, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jayme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000601:surgery*; D004550:Elbow / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Brachial plexus palsy; biceps nerve; elbow flexion reconstruction; infraclavicular brachial plexus palsy; thoracodorsal nerve transfer