Long-term follow-up for median nerve function after contralateral C_7 nerve and multiple donor nerves transfer for treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion

Objective To evaluate median nerve function recovery after contralateral C7 nerve and multiple donor nerves transfer for treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion. Methods From June 2005 to June 2010, 40 patients with total brachial plexus root avulsion were treated. Brachial plexus exploration and contralateral C7 transposition phase I were performed. After4-8 months, contralateral C7 transposition phase II and other nerve transfer were performed. According to the different additional surgeries were divided into three groups. Group 1(10 cases), transferred to the median nerve, additional phrenic nerve transferred to musculocutaneous nerve. Group 2(15 patients), transferred to the median nerve and additional intercostal nerve transferred to musculocutaneous nerve. Group 3(15 patients), transferred to the median nerve and musculocutaneous nerve, additional accessory nerve transferred to suprascapular nerve. Results Forty patients were followed up for more than 3 years, the effective rate was 50%, 60%, and 73.3% for group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Among the three groups the difference was not statistically significant(P 0.05). Conclusion Contralateral C7 nerve and multiple donor nerve transfer for treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion get good results, but the difference is not significant in efficaccy among different additional surgiries.