Contralateral medial pectoral nerve transfer with free gracilis muscle transfer in old brachial plexus palsy.

BACKGROUND: There is a very small chance of success for nerve reconstruction in patients with old total brachial plexus palsy who visit after 2 y or suffer from flail upper extremity after the failure of previous operations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: For these individuals, the surgeon has to find a recipient motor nerve to perform free gracilis muscle transplantation. In this study, contralateral medial pectoral nerve from the intact side was transferred to the damaged side as a recipient nerve. Then, in the second operation, approximately 15 mo later, the free gracilis muscle transfer was performed. The gracilis muscle was removed and transferred to provide elbow and finger flexion.

RESULTS: In a retrospective study (over 10 y), we reviewed 68 patients for whom this method had been performed. After 1 y, the results were investigated using the Medical Research Council grading system. Five patients did not participate in the study, and the muscle underwent necrosis in two patients. M3 and M4 muscle power was regained in 26 (42.6%) and 21 (34.4%) patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Contralateral pectoral nerve transfer followed by free muscle transplantation can be a good option for patients with old total brachial plexus palsy.