Results of Nerve Transfer in C5-C6 Traumatic Brachial Plexus Palsy

Brachial plexus injuries involve male patients 90% of time, and are responsible of partial or total loss of motion in the upper extremity. C5-C6 traumatic brachial plexus injury is responsible of shoulder and elbow flexion palsy.

In case of C5-C6 brachial plexus palsy, in addition to classic nerve repair by root graft there are also nerve transfers or tendon transfers.

Nerve transfers have been used with success for reconstruction of brachial plexus injuries [1].

Oberlin et al. [2] described in 1994 a technic for reestablishment of elbow flexion after transfer of motor fascicle of ulnar nerve to the nerve of the biceps. The results of this technic showed MRC grade M3 or M4 strength in 24 of 32 patients.

Since 2007, we used a double transfer for the restoration of elbow flexion (motor fascicles of the ulnar nerve to the biceps nerve and motor fascicles of the median nerve to the brachial nerve) for all C5-C6 palsy. The purpose of this present study is to present the result of the double nerve transfer for restoration of elbow flexion in C5-C6 brachial plexus palsy.

Between 2007 and 2013, 21 post-traumatic C5-C6 brachial plexus injury with complete elbow flexion palsy were included in this study.

There were 19 men and 02 women; the mean age was 36 years (range 08-65 years). The most common mechanism of injury motor vehicle collision (17 patients), followed by motorcycle accident (03 patients) and a road accident (1 patient). Surgery was performed at mean of 15 months after injury (range 03-25 months). All patients benefited from a double nerve transfer (transfer of motor fascicles of the ulnar nerve to the nerve of the biceps with same diameter, combined with a transfer of motor fascicles of the median nerve to the nerve of the brachial with same diameter) “Figure 1 & 2” according to the technique of Oberlin [2], with the objective of restoring elbow flexion.

Figure 1: up the nerve of the biceps, below motor fascicleof the ulnar nerve with same diameter, between the nerve suture.

Figure 2: left; suture of the ulnar nerve with The nerve of the biceps, right; suture of the median nerve with the brachial nerve

For the shoulder palsy, we associated with the double transfer, a transfer of the accessory spinal nerve to the suprascapular nerve in only one case, in a girl 8 years old. for the other patients we associated a C5 root graft on the first trunk, if the C5 root was not avulsed.

Clinical evaluation: all patients underwent preoperative clinical evaluation including, elbow flexion strength testing, 2-point discrimination. Postoperative evaluation included elbow flexion strength testing (The elbow flexion strength was evaluated by using hand dynamometer placed on the distal part of the radius), 2-point discrimination and testing of opposite side elbow flexion.

Postoperative management: Postoperatively bandage immobilizes shoulder, elbow at 90° flexion for 21 days. After 3 weeks, patients are referred to physical therapist.

The first visible contractions (M2) were observed between the 4^th and 6^th postoperative month, and flexion against gravity was observed between the 7^th and 8^th postoperative month (Table 1), but for flexion against resistance it was necessary to wait between the 9th and 12th postoperative month.

Table 1: clinical series of C5-C6 brachial plexus palsy.

The elbow flexion strength was evaluated by using hand dynamometer placed on the distal part of the radius (Table 1).

Overall, on the 21 operated patients, the double nerve transfer has allowed good flexion of elbow (M4-M5) in 19 cases “Figure 3 & 4” and we did not get any contractions in 02 cases (M0).

Figure 3: preoperative C5-C6 Brachial plexus palsy.

Figure 4: post-operative result.

We report one sensory deficits in the median nerve area, it was a woman 24-year-old. The deficit in the median nerve was hypoesthesia of the first three fingers who recovered after 05 weeks.

According to Midha [3] brachial plexus injuries occur following 0.67%-1.3% of motor vehicle collision and 4.2% of motorcycle accident. In our series 80.95% (17 patients) of C5-C6 brachial plexus palsy occurred following motor vehicle collision.

The root grafts requires axonal regeneration over long distances, and are confronted to the problem nerve growth error. The results of the various published series prove it, Alnot et al. In 1998, reported a recovery rate of 53% in 15 cases [4], Klein and Tiel in 2005 reported a recovery rate of 55% for 67 patients [5].

When there is a root avulsion the use of nerve transfers becomes a necessity, the accessory spinal nerve can be used which gives 75% good results according to Alnot [4], or the intercostal nerves Bouloudnine [6].

In a comparative study, Sokolowski et al. [7] presented the comparative results between root grafts and transfer of motor fascicles from the ulnar nerve to the biceps nerve, and obtained 47% results at M3 for root grafts versus 88% for the nerve transfer.

Another study was carried out by Coulet et al. [8] between transfer of the intercostal nerves and transfer of motor fascicles from the ulnar nerve to the biceps nerve and obtained 87% strength at M3 for ulnar nerve transfer on nerve of the biceps versus 59% for the intercostal nerves transfer to the nerve of the biceps.

The principle of nerve transfer is the transfer of a motor nerve to another motor nerve without nerve growth error between sensory and motor nerves, and the proximity of the target [1].

The Oberlin technique seems to give better results than other types of nerve transfer [7,8].

Other authors published the results of the double transfer of motor fascicles from the ulnar nerve to the biceps nerve associated with the transfer of motor fascicle from the median nerve to the brachial nerve, Makinnon et al. [9] reported 66% results at M4. Estrella EP [10], Ray WZ [11], Goubier [12] confirm results up to 80% at M4.

Carlsen et al. [13] compared the results between single and double transfer with rates of 67% for single and 80% for double transfer.

Oberlin et al. [1] reported the results of two series of single and double transfer with respectively rates of 60% and 79% without a comparative study between the two series.

Martin et al. [14] compared the results between single and double transfer and found no difference between the two groups.

Barthel et al. [15] compares the results between single and double transfer and finds 60% strength at M4 for single and 85% for double transfer.

The proximity of the ulnar nerve offered an easily accessible donor to the biceps and the proximity of the median nerve offered an accessible donor to the brachialis nerve, this double transfer represented a significant step forward in the evolution of nerve transfers for upper brachial plexus palsy [1].

In our series, we report two failures at M0 (10%), 19 good results at M4-M5 (90%) and one sensory deficits judged not inconvenient by the patients. The first failure was a man 65 years old; the failure was put on the account of the advanced age. The second failure was a patient operated 25 months after trauma; probably the delay of the management must had a primary role for the failure. Despite the evidence that the double transfer gives good results without functional downgrade, some surgeons continue to perform a single nerve transfer of lone ulnar transfer to the biceps, the argument is that preservation of native innervation of brachialis muscle allows the possibility of spontaneous recovery [16].

Outcomes in the featured cases obtained by the double transfer as well as the very low rate of sequels linked to the sample; make this technique a good indication in the treatment of the upper brachial plexus palsy [17].

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