title: Free functioning muscle transfer in radiation-induced brachial plexopathy: case report.
abstract: Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy is a delayed complication of radiation treatment for tumors involving the neck and chest area and is progressive. A 56-year-old woman presented to us with loss of elbow flexion and weak wrist and finger extension 15 years after she received external beam radiation to the left chest, axilla, and supraclavicular region for treatment of breast cancer. She was managed with a gracilis free muscle transfer for elbow flexion and hand prehension. By 2 years after surgery she regained elbow range of motion of 40° to 110° and improved in hand function. She was able to perform activities of daily living. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score improved from 56 to 20.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Ogori Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Bipin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gangurde
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Ogori Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan. Electronic address: doimicro@saikyo.or.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuteru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Ogori Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Ogori Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Sotetsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Radiation-induced brachial plexus palsy; free functioning muscle transfer