Infraclavicular Intraplexual Transfers for Elbow Flexion
摘要
This chapter illustrates the medial cord to musculocutaneous (MC-Mc) transfer and the medial cord to the anterior contribution to the upper trunk (MC-aUT) transfer, both aimed at reanimating elbow flexion. One/two fascicles of the medial cord (MC) directed to the flexor carpi ulnaris or digitorum profundus are the donors. The MCMc transfer was conceived 25 years ago, while its variant (MC-aUT) dates to 8 years ago. Since then, more than 500 patients have been operated on with both techniques. Thanks to the reinnervation of biceps and brachialis the results are excellent, while the proximal site of the donor overcomes some limitations of the more popular Oberlin’s transfer. Ideal candidates are upper plexus patients with normal hands, although multilevel avulsive injuries can also be treated. Indications to MC-aUT transfer are the agenesia of the musculocutaneous nerve and a residual activity in the biceps, which would be lost after the section of the whole nerve. Both techniques have no failures being the hand normal. In suboptimal conditions of the hand, the technique is challenging but still has satisfactory results. The recovery starts 6 months after surgery in the MCMc. The MC-aUT usually needs 2 more months. Tendon transfers for wrist and finger dorsiflexion, when required, remain unencumbered.