title: Intercostal nerve transfer to the biceps motor branch in complete traumatic brachial plexus injuries.
abstract: The purpose of this report is to critically evaluate our results of two intercostal nerve transfers directly to the biceps motor branch in complete traumatic brachial plexus injuries. From January 2007 to November 2012, 19 patients were submitted to this type of surgery, but only 15 of them had a follow-up for ≥2 years and were included in this report. The mean interval from trauma to surgery was 6.88 months (ranging from 3 to 9 months). Two intercostals nerves were dissected and transferred directly to the biceps motor branch. The mean follow-up was 38.06 months (ranging from 24 to 62 months). Ten patients (66.6%) recovered an elbow flexion strength ≥M3. Four of them (26.66%) recovered a stronger elbow flexion ≥M4. One patient (6.25%) recovered an M2 elbow flexion and four patients (26.66%) did not regain any movement. We concluded that two intercostal nerve transfers to the biceps motor branch is a procedure with moderate results regarding elbow flexion recovery, but it is still one of the few options available in complete brachial plexus injuries, especially in five roots avulsion scenario.
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.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Bernardelli
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Iamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Bersani
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Gregorio
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Paulos
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: Leandro Yoshinobu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
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: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrenti
authors.affiliation: Hospital Estadual Mario Covas, Faculdade De Medicina Do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Klícia de Oliveira Costa Riker Teles
authors.initials: Kde O
authors.lastname: de Menezes
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Rezende
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teng Hsiang
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Instituto De Ortopedia E Traumatologia Do Hospital Das Clínicas, Da Faculdade De Medicina - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rames
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattar Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult