• Mou-Xiong Zheng, Wen-Dong Xu, Yan-Qun Qiu, Jian-Guang Xu, and Yu-Dong Gu.
• Department of Hand Surgery, Hua-Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
• J Hand Surg Am. 2010 Aug 1; 35 (8): 1304-9.

PurposeTo explore long-term recovery of elbow flexion and extension after transferring the phrenic nerve and intercostal nerves, respectively, in adults with global brachial plexus avulsion injuries.MethodsSeven adults with global brachial plexus avulsion injuries had the phrenic nerve transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve (or to the anterior division of upper trunk) and intercostal nerves transferred to the triceps branch of the radial nerve at our hospital 7 to 12 years ago. The results of elbow motor strength testing using the Medical Research Council grading scale, and electrodiagnostic findings using electromyogram examinations, were studied retrospectively. Pulmonary function tests were also performed at final visits.ResultsFunctional elbow flexion was obtained in most of the 7 cases (M2, 1; M3, 3; M4, 2; and M5, 1) but elbow extension was absent or insufficient in all subjects (M0, 1; M1, 3; and M2, 3). Electrical results showed successful biceps reinnervation in 6 patients and successful triceps reinnervation in 5. No patient experienced breathing problems, and pulmonary function results were within normal range.ConclusionsIn the long term, after brachial plexus avulsion injury in most patients who underwent both phrenic nerve and intercostal nerve transfer to achieve elbow flexion and extension eventually obtained satisfactory elbow flexion but poor elbow extension. We recommend against transferring the intercostal nerves to the triceps branch of radial nerve in conjunction with primary phrenic to musculocutaneous nerve transfer.Type Of Study/Level Of EvidenceTherapeutic IV.Copyright 2010 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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