Christophe Oberlin

Transfer of Fascicles from the Ulnar Nerve to the Nerve to the Biceps in the Treatment of Upper Brachial Plexus Palsy

BACKGROUNDnThe transfer of one or more ulnar nerve fascicles to the nerve to the biceps can restore elbow flexion in patients with upper brachial plexus palsy. The purposes of the present retrospective study were to evaluate the results of this procedure, to measure the delay in reinnervation of the biceps muscle, and to define the indications for a secondary Steindler flexorplasty.nnnMETHODSnThirty-two patients with an upper nerve-root brachial plexus injury were reviewed at an average of thirty-one months after the nerve fascicle transfer. The average age of the patients was twenty-eight years. The average time between the injury and the operation was nine months. Patients were evaluated with regard to reinnervation of the biceps, ulnar nerve function, elbow flexion strength, and grip strength.nnnRESULTSnThe average time required for reinnervation of the biceps after nerve fascicle transfer was five months. No motor or sensory deficits related to the ulnar nerve were noted clinically. The average grip strength at the time of the last follow-up was 25 kg (an improvement of 9 kg compared with the preoperative value). After the nerve transfer, twenty-four patients achieved grade-3 elbow flexion strength or better according to the grading system of the Medical Research Council. A Steindler flexorplasty was performed as a secondary procedure in ten patients with persistent grade-3 flexor strength or worse. In eight of these cases, elbow flexion strength improved after nerve transfer and flexorplasty. Overall, thirty of the thirty-two patients achieved a good result (grade-4 strength) or a fair result (grade-3 strength).nnnCONCLUSIONSnWe recommend this procedure for brachial plexus injuries involving the C5-C6 or C5-C6-C7 nerve roots. This procedure spares the C5 nerve root and other nerves for grafting or transfer elsewhere. A secondary Steindler flexorplasty is indicated for patients who have persistent grade-3 elbow flexion strength or worse for at least twelve months after nerve fascicle transfer.

Comparative study of two series of distally based fasciocutaneous flaps for coverage of the lower one-fourth of the leg, the ankle, and the foot.

Skin defects over the lower one‐fourth of the leg and over the foot are difficult to cover. Two types of pedicled fasciocutaneous flaps used to cover such defects were studied: the lateral supramalleolar flap and the distally based sural neurocutaneous flap. The series consisted of 27 and 36 cases, respectively. The lateral supramalleolar flap was used 27 times: for skin defects over the ankle (4), foot (16), and leg (7). The distally based sural neurocutaneous flap was used 42 times: over the foot (24), ankle (13), and leg (5). Fourteen of these patients were 65 years of age or older, and local vascularity was diminished in 16 cases. The flaps were evaluated clinically twice: in the immediate postoperative period for survival or for partial or total flap necrosis, and again to determine the presence of pain at the donor or recipient sites and the cosmetic appearance. Thirty‐nine patients (62 percent) were reviewed subsequently, with a mean follow‐up of 5 years for the supramalleolar flap and 2 years for the sural neurocutaneous flap. The results were evaluated for the presence or absence of pain, the appearance of the flap, the disability due to the insensate nature of the flap, and the presence or absence of secondary ulceration. Painful neuromata were noted in three cases with the sural neurocutaneous flap, whereas complete necrosis of the supramalleolar artery flap occurred in three patients. The distally based sural neurocutaneous island flap is very reliable, even in debilitated patients. Though the lateral supramalleolar artery flap offers the possibility of covering the same areas as the sural neurocutaneous flap, it is much less reliable in the presence of diminished local vascularity (18.5 percent failure rate as compared with 4.8 percent for the sural neurocutaneous flap). Because the procedure can cover extensive defects and is easy to perform, the distally based sural neurocutaneous flap was the method of choice for covering skin defects over the foot, heel, ankle, and the lower one‐fourth of the leg. The lateral supramalleolar artery flap is indicated only when the sural neurocutaneous flap is contraindicated. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 107: 383, 2001.)

The posterolateral malleolar flap of the ankle: a distally based sural neurocutaneous flap--report of 14 cases.

The posterolateral malleolar flap is a fasciocutaneous flap designed on the principles of distally based neurocutaneous flaps. It is based distally at the level of the lateral retromalleolar gutter. Elevation of the flap involves the proximal sectioning of the sural nerve, which contributes to its vascularization by reversed flow. This is a very reliable flap, even in patients with distal arterial insufficiency. For this reason, it has emerged, in our experience, as the method of choice in the treatment of heel necrosis. Fourteen cases are reported, of which six were elderly patients.

Anatomical variations of the extensor tendons to the fingers over the dorsum of the hand: a study of 50 hands and a review of the literature.

The extensor tendons to the fingers were studied in dissections of 50 fresh cadaveric hands, and the divisions of the tendons, as well as the communications (juncturae), were analyzed. The pattern of distribution most frequently observed was as follows. The extensor digitorum communis provided one tendon to the index finger, one to the middle finger, two to the ring finger, and none to the little finger. The extensor indicis exhibited one tendon, whereas the extensor digiti minimi exhibited two tendons. The extensor indicis tendon was always observed to lack a junctura tendinum. The extensor indicis was absent in both hands of one cadaver. A tendon slip from the extensor digiti minimi to the ring finger was observed in one hand. All surgeons must bear in mind the existence of these variations when performing common tendon transfers.

Medial plantar flap based distally on the lateral plantar artery to cover a forefoot skin defect.

The authors report a simple, single-step procedure to promote the distal transfer of the instep island flap for coverage of the submetatarsal weight-bearing zone. First described in 1991 by Martin et aI, this procedure remained unknown. As opposed to the medial plantar flap, this technique proposes an instep island flap based on the lateral plantar artery. The inflow and outflow of blood is assured by the anastomosis between the dorsalis pedis and lateral plantar vessels. This approach allows for the transfer of similar tissue and provides adequate coverage of the weight-bearing zone of the distal forefoot.