Clinical outcomes of contralateral 7th cervical nerve transfer in the treatment of total brachial plexus root avulsion in Xinjiang Autonomous Region

Objective To evaluate the long-term functional recovery after contralateral 7th cervical nerve(C7) transfer with brachial plexus root avulsion and the effect on the contralateral limbs after operation. Methods A total of 83 patients with injory of brachial plexus avulsion were underwent contralateral C7 transfer from September, 2004 to December, 2014. Among them, contralateral C7 were transferred to the median nerve in 33 cases, to radial nerve in 14 cases, to musculocutaneous nerve in 22 cases, and simultaneous transfer to median and musculocutaneous nerve in 14 cases. The followed-up contents included recovery of muscular strength and sensory innervated by the recipient nerve, bilateral limbs synergistic activity and the effect on the contralateral limbs after the surgery. Results All 83 cases were successfully followed-up for 3.2-6.2 years (average, 4.5 years), and found no significant effect on function of the contralateral limbs. In the group of C7 transferred to the median nerve group, 10 cases had muscle strength recovered≥M3, and 26 cases had sensory recovered≥S3; In the group of C7 transferred to the radial nerve, 6 cases had muscle strength recovered≥M3, and 9 cases had sensory recovered ≥S3; In the group of C7 transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve, 12 cases had muscle strength recovered≥M3, and 17 cases had sensory recovered≥S3. In the group of C7 simultaneous transferred to the median and musculocutaneous nerve, 6 cases had muscle strength of wrist and digital flexion recovered≥M3, 5 cases had elbow flexion recovered≥M3, 9 and 10 cases had sensory of innervated area and lateral forearm region recovered≥S3, respectively. Conclusion Contralateral C7 transfer is an ideal procedure for the treatment of total brachial plexus root avulsion with definitive clinical outcomes. Key words: Brachial plexus root avulsion; Seventh cervical nerve; Nerve transfer; Limb coordination