title: Nerve Transfers for Treatment of Isolated Axillary Nerve Injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common neurological defect in traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation is isolated axillary nerve palsy. Most recover spontaneously; however, some have persistent axillary neuropathy. An intact rotator cuff may compensate for an isolated axillary nerve injury; however, given the high rate of rotator cuff pathology with advancing age, patients with an axillary nerve injury are at risk for complete shoulder disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review reconstruction of the axillary nerve to alleviate shoulder pain, augment shoulder stability, abduction and external rotation to alleviate sole reliance on the rotator cuff to move and stabilize the shoulder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 10 patients with an isolated axillary nerve injury and an intact rotator cuff who underwent a triceps nerve branch to axillary nerve transfer was performed. Patient demographics, surgical technique, deltoid strength, donor-site morbidity, complications and time to surgery were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten male patients, mean age 38.3 years (range 18 to 66 years), underwent a triceps to axillary nerve transfer for isolated axillary nerve injury 7.4 months (range five to 12 months) post-traumatic shoulder dislocation. Deltoid function was British Medical Research Council grade 0/5 in all patients preoperatively and ≥3/5 deltoid strength in eight patients at final follow-up (14.8 months [range 12 to 25 months]). There were no complications and no donor-site morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A triceps to axillary nerve transfer for isolated axillary neuropathy following traumatic shoulder dislocation improved shoulder pain, stability and deltoid strength, and potentially preserves shoulder function with advancing age by alleviating sole reliance on the rotator cuff for shoulder abduction and external rotation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Margie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wheelock
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Tod A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Giuffre
keywords: Isolated axillary nerve injury; Nerve transfer