Radial nerve palsy associated with high-energy humeral shaft fractures (original) (raw)
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Rehabilitation of Tendon Transfers for Radial Nerve Injury: A Report of Two Cases
Türkiye Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi, 2010
um mm ma ar ry y Extended delay in the treatment of radial nerve injuries might lead to permanent loss of motor end-plate function. In such cases tendon transfer is mandatory for regaining hand functions. The postoperative management of tendon transfer is difficult and requires patient cooperation and close follow-up. Two case reports are presented to describe the postoperative course of tendon transfer for radial nerve palsy. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2010;56:91-3. K Ke ey y W Wo or rd ds s: : Radial nerve injury, tendon transfer, rehabilitation Ö Öz ze et t Radial sinir yaralanmas›n›n tedavisinde gecikme, nöromüsküler bileflke ifllevlerinin kal›c› yitimine yol açabilir. Bu durumda elin ifllevini yeniden kazanmas› için tendon transferi gereklidir. Cerrahi sonras› rehabilitasyon zor bir süreçtir ve yak›n izlem ve hasta kooperasyonu gerektirir. Bu yaz›da radial sinir felci nedeniyle izledi¤imiz iki olgunun sonuçlar› belirtilmifltir. Türk Fiz T›p Rehab Derg 2010;56:91-3. A An na ah ht ta ar r K Ke el li im me el le er r: : Radial sinir yaralanmas›, tendon transferi, rehabilitasyon
Journal of Neurosurgery, 2015
OBJECT Results of radial nerve grafting are largely unknown for lesions of the radial nerve that occur proximal to the humerus, including those within the posterior cord. METHODS The authors describe 13 patients with proximal radial nerve injuries who were surgically treated and then followed for at least 24 months. The patients’ average age was 26 years and the average time between accident and surgery was 6 months. Sural nerve graft length averaged 12 cm. Recovery was scored according to the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) scale, which ranges from M0 to M5 (normal muscle strength). RESULTS After grafting, all 7 patients with an elbow extension palsy recovered elbow extension, scoring M4. Six of the 13 recovered M4 wrist extension, 6 had M3, and 1 had M2. Thumb and finger extension was scored M4 in 3 patients, M3 in 2, M2 in 2, and M0 in 6. CONCLUSIONS The authors consider levels of strength of M4 for elbow and wrist extension and M3 for thumb and finger extension to be goo...
The Journal of Hand Surgery, 2009
Purpose Radial nerve damage results in substantial functional limitations of the upper extremity. No detailed data exist regarding long-term results, patient satisfaction, and professional and social reintegration after tendon transfer for irreparable damage to the radial nerve. In this retrospective study, we investigated these data through the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Methods Between 1995 and 2006, 77 patients underwent a modified Brooks and d'Aubigne surgical technique for radial nerve palsy in our department. In 19 cases, the flexor carpi radialis muscle was used as a donor instead of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. The mean follow-up period was 60 months (range, 24-150 months); motion of the wrist and finger joints and pinch-grip power were compared with the healthy side. We assessed the limitation in pursuing daily activities using the DASH score. Results Wrist extension averaged 73% of the contralateral side, whereas the value for movement of digital extension was 32% and for thumb abduction in the palmar direction it was 80%. The power grip was reduced to 49% and the pinch grip was reduced to 28%. The mean DASH score was 15 Ϯ 9, the symptom score mean was 15 Ϯ 7, and the working score mean was 12 Ϯ 10. The mean total DASH score was 16 Ϯ 10. The proportion of patients who remained employed after surgical treatment was 89%. Conclusions Functional results, adequate patient satisfaction, and sufficient professional and social reintegration can be achieved after modified Brooks and d'Aubigne tendon transfer. Accordingly, the tendon transfer offers an important alternative-possibly the procedure of choice-to microsurgical nerve reconstruction, particularly when early professional and social reintegration is important.
Early surgical exploration of radial nerve injury associated with fracture shaft humerus
Microsurgery, 2008
The series included 36 patients, predominantly male, mean age 30.3 years. The most common cause of injury was motor car accident in 20 patients. Postreduction radial nerve injury occurred in nine cases. Open fracture humerus with radial nerve injury in seven cases. The fractures were situated in the middle or distal third of the humeral shaft. Most were transverse fractures. Twelve patients had surgery on the day of injury and the other 24 at a mean of 8 days later (3-14). Narrow dynamic compression plate was generally used for fixation. Exploration of the radial nerve demonstrated compression at the lateral intermuscular septum in 19 cases, entrapment in the fracture site in nine cases, and loss of its continuity in eight cases. Neurolysis was required in 20 cases, epineurorrhaphy in nine cases, interfascicular nerve grafts in five, and first-intention tendon transfer in two. Results of nerve surgery were assessed with the MRC (Medical Research Council) at a mean follow-up of 8.2 years. Outcome was rated good to excellent in 28 patients, fair in 1, and poor (failure) in 3. Firstintention tendon transfers were performed in 2 patients and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. Mean delay to recovery was 7 months after neurolysis and nerve repair and 15 months after nerve grafts. The fracture was united in all cases. The mean time of union was 5 months. V
Outcome of tendon transfer for radial nerve paralysis: Comparison of three methods
Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, 2011
Background: Tendon transfer for radial nerve paralysis has a 100 years history and any set of tendons that can be considered to be useful has been utilized for the purpose. The pronator tress is used for restoration of wrist dorsiflexion, while the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpiulnaris, and flexor digitorum superficialis are variably used in each for fingers and thumb movements. The present study was a retrospective analysis, designed to compare three methods of tendon transfer for radial nerve palsy. Materials and Methods: 41 patients with irreversible radial nerve paralysis, who had underwent three different types of tendon transfers (using different tendons for transfer) between March 2005 and September 2009, included in the study. The pronator teres was transferred for wrist extention. Flexor carpi ulnaris (group 1, n=18), flexor carpi radialis (group 2, n=10) and flexor digitorum superficialis (group 3, n=13) was used to achieve finger extention. Palmaris longus was used to achieve thumb extention and abduction. At the final examination, related ranges of motions were recorded and the patients were asked about their overall satisfaction with the operation, their ability, and time of return to their previous jobs, and in addition, disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) Score was measured and recorded for each patient. Results: The difference between the groups with regard to DASH score, ability, and time of return to job, satisfaction with the operation, and range of motions was not statistically significant (P>0.05). All of the patients had experienced functional improvement and overall satisfaction rate was 95%. No complication directly attributable to the operation was noted, except for proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contracture in three patents. Conclusion: The tendon transfer for irreversible radial nerve palsy is very successful and probably the success is not related to type of tendon used for transfer.
The Best of Tendon and Nerve Transfers in the Upper Extremity
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2015
Learning Objectives: After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Identify the prerequisite conditions to perform a tendon or a nerve transfer. 2. Detail some of the current nerve and tendon transfer options in upper extremity peripheral nerve injuries. 3. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of tendon and nerve transfers used in isolation and in combination. 4. Appreciate the controversies that surround the nerve/tendon transfers. 5. Realize the treatment outcomes of peripheral nerve injuries. Summary: Traditional treatment of a Sunderland fourth-or fifth-degree peripheral nerve injury has been direct neurorrhaphy, nerve grafting, or tendon transfers. With increasing knowledge of nerve pathophysiology, additional treatment options such as nerve transfers have become increasingly popular. With an array of choices for treating peripheral nerve injuries, there is debate as to whether tendon transfers and/or nerve transfers should be performed to restore upper extremity function. Often, tendon and nerve transfers are used in combination as opposed to one in isolation to obtain the most normal functioning extremity without unacceptable donor deficits. The authors tend to prefer reconstructive techniques that have proven long-term efficacy to restore function. Nerve transfers are becoming more common practice, with excellent results; however, the authors are wary of using nerve transfers that sacrifice possible secondary tendon reconstruction should the nerve transfer fail.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Adult humeral shaft fractures are associated with primary radial nerve palsy in up to 18% of cases. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of injury mechanism, fracture type, and treatment on nerve recovery in patients with humeral shaft fractures and primary nerve palsy. Data of fifty patients (age—43.5 ± 21.3; female: male—1:1.8) with humeral shaft fractures and concomitant grade I–II primary radial nerve palsy, who underwent either open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or intramedullary nailing at an academic level I trauma center between 1994 and 2013, were evaluated. Factors potentially influencing the time to onset of recovery or full nerve recovery (injury mechanism, fracture type, fracture location and treatment) were analyzed in detail. Thirty patients were treated with ORIF and twenty patients with closed unreamed intramedullary nailing of the humeral shaft, respectively. The mean time to onset of recovery was 10.5 ± 3.4 weeks (2–17 weeks). Twenty-six ...
Nerve Transfers in the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration - From Surgery to New Therapeutic Approaches Including Biomaterials and Cell-Based Therapies Development, 2017
Successful re-innervation of proximal limb peripheral nerve injuries is rare. Axons regenerate at ~1 mm/day, reaching hand muscles by 24 months, finding them atrophied and fibrosed. Peripheral nerve injury repair is often delayed waiting for spontaneous recovery. This waiting time should not be longer than 6 months as after 18 months reinnervation will not achieve effective muscular function. When spontaneous recovery is impossible, referral too late or damage too severe, other options like a transfer from a nearby healthy nerve to the injured one must be considered. They are very successful, and the deficit in the donor site is usually minimal. The most common nerve transfers are a branch of the spinal nerve to the trapezius muscle to the suprascapular nerve, a branch of the long head of the triceps to the axillary nerve, a fascicle of the ulnar nerve to the motor branch of the biceps muscle, two branches of the median nerve to the posterior interosseous nerve and the anterior interosseous nerve to the ulnar nerve. There are many more options that can suit particular cases. Introduced in brachial plexus injury repair, they are now also applied to lower limb, to stroke and to some spinal cord injuries.