Premium
Oberlin's ulnar nerve transfer to the biceps motor nerve in obstetric brachial plexus palsy: Indications, and good and bad results
Author(s) -
Noaman Hassan Hamdy,
Shiha Anis Elsayed,
Bahm Jörg
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.20037
Subject(s) - medicine , brachial plexus , biceps , musculocutaneous nerve , palsy , ulnar nerve , elbow , surgery , accessory nerve , upper trunk , upper limb , anatomy , tendon transfer , tendon , alternative medicine , pathology
Abstract We present 7 children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy treated by transferring two motor fascicles out of the ulnar nerve to the biceps nerve. Three were male, and 4 were female. The left‐side brachial plexus was affected in 4 patients, and the right side in 3 patients. All children had vaginal delivery; two of them presented with shoulder dystocia. The average birth weight was 4,300 g (range, 3,620–5,500 g). Average age at time of operation was 16 months (range, 11–24 months). The indication for the operation was absent active elbow flexion with active shoulder abduction against gravity in 4 cases, and no biceps function and bad shoulder function in 3 cases. Oberlin's ulnar nerve transfer was done in 4 cases without brachial plexus exploration in those children with good shoulder function, and exploration of the brachial plexus was performed in the other 3 cases with bad shoulder function. The average follow‐up was 19 months (range, 13–30 months). Five children had biceps muscle ≥M 3 with active elbow flexion against gravity, and 2 children had biceps muscle