Nerve graft versus nerve transfer for neonatal brachial plexus: shoulder outcomes

Results of spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve transfers in children with brachial plexus birth injury

Shoulder external rotation after brachial plexus birth injury can be restored by transfer of the spinal accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve, or more distally to its infraspinatus branch. We studied the outcome of these nerve transfers in 52 patients with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 12 months (mean 7.3 years). The median postoperative improvement in shoulder external rotation was 120° (interquartile range [IQR] 45-135) after anterior and 110° (IQR 83-120) after dorsal spinal accessory nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve main trunk, and 110° (IQR 80-125) after transfer to the infraspinatus branch. Patients operated after 20 months obtained external rotation ≥90° less frequently. The results of this study suggest that a decision about distal nerve transfer for shoulder external rotation is recommended at 1.5 years of age.Level of evidence: III.

Repair methods in peripheral nerves after traumatic injuries: a systematic literature review

PURPOSE

To identify and describe the most used surgical repair methods for traumatic injuries to peripheral nerves, as well as highlight the causes of trauma to peripheral nerves and the most prevalent traumatized nerves.

METHODS

This is a systematic literature review using the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The searches were carried out in PubMED, in the time window from January 2018 to December 2022.

RESULTS

In total, 3,687 articles were collected, of which, after applying the inclusion and exclusion filters and analyzing the risk of bias, 34 articles remained. It was observed that the age of the injury and type of nerve repair strongly influence the recovery of patients. The most identified trauma repair procedures were neurolysis, direct suturing, grafting, and nerve transfer. Among these four procedures, direct suturing is currently preferred.

CONCLUSION

Several repair methods can be used in peripheral nerve injuries, with emphasis on direct suturing. However, nerve transfer proves to be a differential in those cases in which repair is delayed or the first treatment options have failed, which shows that each method will be used according to the indication for each case.

Spinal accessory nerve transfer for shoulder abduction has no benefit over supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting in brachial plexus birth injury: a systematic review

Introduction

Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) has an incidence of 0.9 per 1,000 live births in the population. Techniques for repair classically include supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting (SENG) and more recently nerve transfer, namely of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) to the suprascapular nerve (SSN) to improve functional outcomes such as glenohumeral abduction and external rotation. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate whether spinal accessory nerve transfer produced significantly better outcomes for shoulder abduction in BPBI.

Methods

A search was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Individual Patient Data guidelines. Standardized comparisons were made using the Mallet Score for shoulder abduction.

Results

10 full-text articles with itemized patient outcome measures were selected. 110 patients were identified with 51 patients in the SENG group and 59 patients in the SAN transfer group. The mean shoulder abduction Mallet score in the SENG group was 3.50 ± 0.84, while the mean Mallet score in the SAN transfer group was 3.58 ± 0.77, which displayed no significant differences (p = 0.9012). There was no significant relationship between the age at time of surgery and post-operative Mallet scores for shoulder abduction after SENG (p = 0.3720).

Discussion

Our systematic review found that there was no difference observed in post-operative outcomes of shoulder abduction when comparing SAN transfer and nerve grafting. Continued support for nerve grafting lies in the argument that it incorporates the patient's native neuroanatomy and allows for sensory reinnervation.

The 2-by-2 Inch "Key Window" in the Upper Extremity: An Anatomical Appraisal of the Accessibility and Proximity of the Major Nerves and Vessels

BACKGROUND

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves located between the neck and axilla, which receives input from C5-T1. Distally, the nerves and blood vessels that supply the arm and forearm form a medial neurovascular bundle. The purpose of this study was to illustrate that a peripheral nerve dissection via a 2 × 2 inch window would allow for identification and isolation of the major nerves and blood vessels that supply the arm and forearm.

METHODS

A right side formalin-fixed latex-injected cadaveric arm was transected at the proximal part of the axillary fold and included the scapular attachments. Step-by-step anatomical dissection was carried out and documented with three-dimensional digital imaging.

RESULTS

A 2 × 2 inch window centered 2 inches distal to the axillary fold on the medial surface of the arm enabled access to the major neurovascular structures of the arm and forearm: the median nerve, ulnar nerve, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, radial nerve and triceps motor branches, musculocutaneous nerve and its biceps and brachialis branches and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, basilic vein and brachial artery and vein, and profunda brachii artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that the majority of the neurovascular supply in the arm and forearm can be accessed through a 2 × 2 inch area in the medial arm. Although this "key window" may not be entirely utilized in the operative setting, our comprehensive didactic description of peripheral nerve dissection in the cadaver laboratory can help in safer identification of complex anatomy encountered during surgical procedures.

Rehabilitation protocols in neonates undergoing primary nerve surgery for upper brachial plexus palsy: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Surgical management is recommended in patients with severe neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) within the first 6 months of age to regain best possible function. Rehabilitation post-surgery remains relatively unexplored. This is a scoping review that explores, which rehabilitation modalities exist and how they vary for different microsurgical approaches in NBPP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search was conducted to include articles about upper trunk obstetric brachial plexus nerve microsurgery in pediatric patients that made mention of rehabilitation protocols. The aims of rehabilitation modalities varied and were grouped: "passive" movement to prevent joint contracture or stiffness, "active" or task-oriented movement to improve motor function, or "providing initial motor recovery". Surgical approach was described as either exploration of the brachial plexus (EBP) or nerve transfer without root exploration (NTwoRE). Technique was categorized into transfers and non-transfers.

RESULTS

Thirty-six full-text articles were included. Initiation of rehabilitation was 22.26 days post-surgery. Twenty-eight studies were EBP, and six were NTwoRE. Of studies classifiable by aims, nine were "passive", nine were "active", and five were "providing initial motor recovery". Only 27.7% of EBP studies mentioned active therapy, while 75.0% of NTwoRE studies mentioned active therapy. The average age of patients in the EBP procedure category was 7.70 months, and NTwoRE was 17.76 months. Within transfers, the spinal accessory to suprascapular group was more likely to describe an active shoulder exercise therapy, whereas contralateral C7 group was more likely to describe "initial motor recovery", especially through the use of electrostimulation. All articles on electrostimulation recommended 15-20-minute daily treatment.

CONCLUSION

Information on rehabilitation is limited post-nerve surgery in NBPP. However, when mentioned, the aims of these therapies vary with respect to surgical approach and technique. The type of therapy to employ may be a multifaceted decision, involving factors such as patient age, initial deformity, and goals of the care team.

Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: Trends in Early Surgical Intervention over the Last Three Decades

Early surgical management of brachial plexus birth injury has advanced owing to targeted surgical techniques and increases in specialty-centers and multi-institutional collaboration. This study seeks to determine trends in the early surgical management of BPBI over the last 30 years.

Methods

A systematic review was performed through MEDLINE (PubMed) identifying studies limited to the early surgical management of BPBI from 1990 to current. Patients treated after 1 year of age (ie, tendon transfers and secondary reconstructive efforts) were excluded. Diagnostic tests, age of intervention, surgical treatment modalities, and outcome scoring systems were extrapolated and compared so as to determine trends in management over time.

Results

Seventeen studies met criteria, summating a total of 883 patients. The most commonly reported physical examination classifications were the Mallet and AMS scoring systems. Most patients underwent neuroma excision and sural nerve autografting (n = 618, 70%) when compared with primary nerve transfers (148, 16.8%), primary nerve transfer with autografting combinations (59, 6.7%), or neurolysis alone (58, 6.6%). There was no significant change in the proportion of patients treated with sural nerve grafting, combination graft and transfer procedures, or isolated neurolysis over time. However, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of patients treated with primary nerve transfer procedures (τ _b = 0.668, P < 0.01) over time.

Conclusion

Although neuroma excision and sural nerve autografting has been the historic gold-standard treatment for brachial plexus birth injury, peripheral nerve transfers have become increasingly utilized for surgical management.

Addressing common orthopaedic calamities with microsurgical solutions

Reconstructive microsurgery has been an essential aspect of orthopaedic surgery and extremity reconstruction since the introduction of the operating microscope in the mid-20^th century. The reconstructive ladder ranges from simple healing by secondary intention to complex procedures such as free tissue transfer and vascularized composite allotransplantation. As orthopaedic surgery has evolved over the past 60 years, so too have the reconstructive microsurgical skills that are often needed to address common orthopaedic surgery problems. In this article, we will discuss a variety of complex orthopaedic surgery scenarios ranging from trauma to infection to tumor resection as well as the spectrum of microsurgical solutions that can aid in their management.