Purpose
Nerve transfer (NT) surgery can improve function in people with cervical spinal cord
injury (SCI). However, the impact of donor nerve deficits remains unclear. The purpose
of this study was to quantify donor deficits experienced by individuals with cervical
SCI following NT.
Methods
This prospective single-arm, comparative study included people with SCI undergoing
upper extremity NTs. Myometry was used to assess muscle strength at baseline and follow-up.
The Spinal Cord Independence Measure was used to measure the ability to perform activities
of daily living.
Results
Ten individuals underwent 20 NTs to restore elbow extension (donor, posterior deltoid;
n = 2), hand opening (donor, supinator; n = 7), and hand closing (donor, brachialis;
n = 11). Shoulder abduction strength decreased (−5.6% at early and −4.5% late follow-up)
in the elbow extension NT. Wrist extension strength decreased at early (−46.9% ± 30.3)
and increased by late (76.4% ± 154.0) follow-up in the hand opening NT. No statistically
significant change in elbow flexion strength was noted in the hand closing NT. Spinal
Cord Independence Measure scores did not change significantly between baseline and
early postoperative follow-up; they improved at late follow-up.
Conclusions
Use of expendable donor nerves with redundant function to perform NT surgery has relatively
little impact on strength or capacity to perform activities of daily living, even
in the unique and highly vulnerable SCI population. Early, temporary loss in wrist
extension strength can be seen after the supinator to posterior interosseous nerve
transfer. This study offers quantitative data about possible diminution of donor function
after NT, enabling hand surgeons to better counsel individuals contemplating upper
extremity reconstruction.
Type of study/Level of Evidence
Prognostic I.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 15, 2022
Accepted:
August 11,
2022
Received:
February 17,
2022
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Supported by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translation Spectrum (SCIRTS) Grant “Nerve Transfers to Restore Hand Function in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury” (PI: I.K.F.).
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
