title: MUSCLE TRANSFER FROM TRICEPS TO BICEPS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC INJURY OF THE UPPER TRUNK OF THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results from transposition of the triceps for elbow flexion in patients with chronic and complete injury to the upper trunk of the brachial plexus.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study, including only patients who had biceps grade 0 and triceps grade 5, who underwent anterior transfer of the triceps muscle, performed between 1998 and 2005. The affected side, sex, type of accident, strength of elbow flexion, complications and patient satisfaction were investigated in 11 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  10 patients were male; the age range was from 24 to 49 years, with a mean of 33.7 years. The minimum time between injury and surgery was 21 months (range 21-74 months). The left side was affected in eight cases, and the right only in three. Good results were obtained in 10 patients, who acquired elbow flexion strength of grade 3 (two cases) and grade 4 (eight cases), while one evolved unfavorably with grade 2 strength. Two cases had complications (initial compartment syndrome and insufficient tensioning). All the patients said that they were satisfied with the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior transposition of the triceps muscle provided patient satisfaction in all cases except one, attaining strength grade 4 in eight cases, grade 3 in two cases and grade 2 in one case.
authors.affiliation: PhD student and MSc in Medicine from the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Fabiano Inúcio de
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Attending Physicians in the Hand and Microsurgery Group, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Mateus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Attending Physicians in the Hand and Microsurgery Group, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Luiz Koiti
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in the School of Medicine and Head of the Hand Group, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Rames Mattar
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: Titular Professor of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Arnaldo Valdir
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Zumiotti
keywords: Brachial plexus; Elbow; Musculoskeletal system