Free Functional Muscle Transfers to Restore Upper Extremity Function.
Free functional muscle transfer provides an option for functional restoration when nerve reconstruction and tendon transfers are not feasible. To ensure a successful outcome, many factors need to be optimized, including proper patient selection, timing of intervention, donor muscle and motor nerve selection, optimal microneurovascular technique and tension setting, proper postoperative management, and appropriate rehabilitation. Functional outcomes of various applications to the upper extremity and the authors' algorithm for the use of free functional muscle transfer are also included in this article.
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8238, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Emily M
EM
Krauss
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8238, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: tungt@wustl.edu.
Thomas H
TH
Tung
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8238, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Amy M
AM
Moore
D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D054061:Ischemic Contracture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
Brachial plexus; Free tissue transfer; Intercostal nerves; Microsurgery; Muscle transfer; Nerve graft; Nerve regeneration; Nerve transfer