Triceps to biceps transfer for restoration of elbow flexion following upper brachial plexus injury

Pothula Durga Prasada Rao; Rayidi Venkata Koteswara Rao; R. Srikanth

doi:10.4103/ijps.IJPS_225_16

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2017; 50(01): 035-042
DOI: 10.4103/ijps.IJPS_225_16

Original Article

Triceps to biceps transfer for restoration of elbow flexion following upper brachial plexus injury

Authors

Pothula Durga Prasada Rao

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Rayidi Venkata Koteswara Rao

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
R. Srikanth

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Upper brachial plexus injury in adults causes loss of elbow fl exion; when the primary nerve surgery has failed or the patient seeks treatment after 12 months of injury and pedicled muscle transfers are required. Most commonly, the latissimus dorsi or the Steindler flexorplasty is used. Material and Methods: We have transferred one of the heads of triceps muscle to restore the elbow flexion in such cases. In addition to return of elbow flexion, extension of elbow following surgery is retained. Ten patients suffering from upper brachial plexus injuries underwent transfer of one head of triceps to biceps tendon between December 2011 and August 2015. Results: The recovery of elbow flexion was Grade 5 in 1, Grade 4 in 4 and Grade 3 in 2; only three of the ten patients had no functionally useful elbow flexion. Seven of the ten patients had an adequate elbow extension following the procedure.

KEY WORDS

Loss of elbow flexion - pedicled muscle transfer - triceps muscle - upper brachial plexus injury

Full Text

References

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