Long-term surgical outcome of median nerve injuries

Distal Nerve Transfer for Opponensplasty in the Setting of High Median Nerve Injury: A Case Series

Background: High median nerve injury leads to an absence of thumb opposition and irreversible thenar atrophy. Currently, distal nerve transfer is a new option for opponensplasty. The superiority of nerve transfer over traditional tendon transfer is that in nerve transfer, all thenar muscles may be reinnervated and so thumb functions are fully achieved, while in tendon transfer, the goal is to reanimate the function of abductor pollicis brevis (APB). This study aims to describe the results of opponensplasty using distal nerve transfer. Materials and Methods: This article analyses the results of opponensplasty using the transfer of abductor digiti minimi (ADM) branch of the ulnar nerve to the recurrent branch of the median nerve. Clinical outcomes were assessed by objectively evaluating APB strength, degree of thumb opposition, and thenar muscle bulk. APB strength and degree of thumb opposition measured by Medical Research Council (MRC) and Kapandji scoring systems, respectively. Results: From 2016 to 2019, six patients with a mean age of 29.5 years (five males and one female) with high median nerve injury were considered for opponensplasty using nerve transfer. Clinical improvement, including APB strength regaining and thumb opposition, was achieved in all patients. Moreover, recovery of thenar atrophy was observed in five patients. Conclusion: In high median-nerve injury, early reconstructive intervention can prevent the thenar muscle atrophy and leads to prompt reinnervation and complete restoration of thenar function. ADM branch of the ulnar nerve is a superior donor for this purpose.

Relationship Between Sensibility Tests and Functional Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Upper Limb Nerve Injuries: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To investigate which tests of hand sensibility correlate with functional outcomes in patients with upper limb traumatic nerve injuries and to assess if composite scales of sensibility correlate with functions.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched in May 2020, with a supplementary search in July 2020. Reference lists of the included publications were hand searched.

STUDY SELECTION

Database search found 2437 records. Eligible studies reported on inferential association between sensibility tests and functions pertaining to adults after upper limb nerve repair. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility. Fifteen publications were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Extracted data contain patient characteristics, surgical procedure, follow-up duration, sensibility tests, and functional assessments. Two reviewers independently assessed data quality.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Fifteen publications involving 849 patients were reviewed. All publications reported on median and/or ulnar nerve injuries. Monofilament tests correlated with Short-Form Health Survey (r=0.548, P<.05), pick-up test (r=0.45, P<.05), and function domain of Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation Questionnaire (PRWHE) (r=0.58, P<.05). The 8 studies of static and moving 2-point discrimination provided conflicting correlations with activities of daily living (ADL) and/or the pick-up test. Data for area localization and object/shape identification were equivocal as well. No data were found for Ten test and vibration tests. Rosén score sensory domain correlated with ADL (r=0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.72) and PRWHE function domain (r=-0.56, P<.05). Medical Research Council sensory scale was related to pick-up test; return to work status; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

Monofilament tests allow practitioners to gather sensibility data meaningful to patients' overall recovery of functions after upper limb nerve trauma. For 2-point discrimination and other sensibility tests, practitioners should be aware that improvement in test performance does not necessarily translate to improved hand function. Findings from the composite scales indicate that hand sensibility, in general, is related to functions. Future research on other common sensibility tests is recommended to explore how the test relates to patients' functions.