Good sensory recovery of the hand in brachial plexus surgery using the intercostobrachial nerve as the donor

ABSTRACT

Objective: Restoration of the sensitivity to sensory stimuli in complete brachial plexus injury is very important. The objective of our study was to evaluate sensory recovery in brachial plexus surgery using the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) as the donor.

Methods: Eleven patients underwent sensory reconstruction using the ICBN as a donor to the lateral cord contribution to the median nerve, with a mean follow-up period of 41 months. A protocol evaluation was performed.

Results: Four patients perceived the 1-green filament. The 2-blue, 3-purple and 4-red filaments were perceptible in one, two and three patients, respectively. According to Highet's scale, sensation recovered to S3 in two patients, to S2+ in two patients, to S2 in six patients, and S0 in one patient.

Conclusion: The procedure using the ICBN as a sensory donor restores good intensity of sensation and shows good results in location of perception in patients with complete brachial plexus avulsion.

RESUMO

Objetivo: A restauração da sensibilidade em pacientes com lesão completa do plexo braquial é muito importante. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a recuperação sensitiva em cirurgia do plexo braquial utilizando o nervo intercostobraquial (NICB) como doador.

Métodos: Onze pacientes foram submetidos a reconstrução sensitiva usando o NICB como doador para a contribuição lateral do nervo mediano, com tempo de acompanhamento pós-operatório médio de 41 meses. Um protocolo de avaliação foi realizado.

Resultados: Quatro pacientes perceberam o filamento 1-verde. Os filamentos 2-azul, 3-roxo e 4-vermelho foram percebidos por um, dois e três pacientes, respectivamente. Um paciente não apresentou recuperação sensitiva. Dois pacientes obtiveram recuperação S3, dois S2+, seis S2 e um S0, pela escala de Highet.

Conclusão: O procedimento usando o NICB como doador promove boa intensidade de recuperação sensitiva e bons resultados são obtidos quanto ao local de percepção em pacientes com avulsão completa do plexo braquial.

Keywords:

brachial plexus - intercostal nerves - median nerve - nerve transfer - sensation - perception

Palavras-chave:

plexo braquial - nervos intercostais - nervo mediano - transferência de nervo - sensação - percepção

The treatment of complete brachial plexus avulsion remains a challenge for nerve surgeons[1],[2]. The recovery of motor function continues to be the priority in brachial plexus reconstruction, but restoration of the sensitivity to sensory stimuli in the hand of patients who have regained movement and function in their arms should also be a priority.

In a previous study, our group demonstrated the anatomical feasibility of using the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) as a donor of sensory fibers to the lateral cord contribution to the median nerve (LCMN)[3]. The purpose of this study was to report the detailed clinical results of sensory recovery in the hand, using this technique in patients with complete brachial plexus injury.

METHODS

Patients

All procedures performed in our study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

A prospective study was conducted from January 2010 to April 2013. Eighteen patients with complete brachial plexus injuries underwent motor and, at the same time, sensory reconstruction. In all cases, the mechanism of injury was high-energy trauma as the result of a motorcycle accident. Six patients were lost to follow-up and were not included in this analysis (patients 1, 4-7 and 15).

Twelve patients with a sufficient follow-up period received a complete evaluation of sensory recovery of the hand by an experienced hand therapist and were included in this study. One of the patients was excluded later because he was surgically treated with a DREZotomy (patient 8). The mean follow-up period was 41 months (range, 36-52 months). There were 10 male patients and one female patient. The mean age was 25 years old (range, 17-36 years old). The mean interval between injury and surgery for sensory reconstruction was 6.7 months (range, 2-11 months).

Surgical technique

Motor reconstructions were carried out on all patients and the sensory reconstruction was performed in the same surgery as follows: a longitudinal incision was made along the anterior axillary line starting in the posterior part of the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle and prolonged downward until the third intercostal space. Fat tissue in the axillar region was dissected and carefully mobilized. The ICBN was identified within this fat tissue emerging from the second intercostal space and dissected distally towards the lateral chest skin and axillar region. The ICBN was then transected distally and reflected towards the infraclavicular space to reach the LCMN below the pectoralis major muscle. A deltopectoral incision was made, the cephalic vein was mobilized and the deltoid and the pectoralis major muscles were retracted apart. The pectoralis minor muscle was divided near its origin from the coracoid process to expose the infraclavicular plexus beneath the fat pad. The LCMN was isolated and divided at its origin in the lateral cord, to be turned down towards the axilla. Depending on the length of the LCMN and of the ICBN, the coaptation was made in the infraclavicular region, in the axilla or below the pectoralis major muscle. Two nylon 10-0 stitches and fibrin glue were applied for coaptation ([Figures 1] and [2]).

Figure 1 Surgical photography of a lateral view of the thorax showing the ICBN at its origin in the second intercostal space and crossing to the axilla.ICBN: intercostobrachial nerve; L: lateral; M: medial.

Figure 2 After being sectioned distally and displaced in the subpectoral space, the ICBN reaches the LCMN in the deltopectoral groove.ICBN: intercostobrachial nerve; L: lateral; LC: lateral cord; LCMN: lateral cord contribution to the median nerve; M: medial; MCN: musculocutaneous nerve; ⋆ : point where the LCMN was sectioned from the LC to be turned inferiorly for coaptation with the ICBN.

Evaluation of sensory recovery

A protocol evaluation was performed on 12 patients. The sensitivity in the distribution of the median nerve in the hand was evaluated when the advancement of the Tinel sign reached the carpal region.

Sensory tests were performed with the patient's eyes covered. The sites of sensory testing were the first three fingers and thenar eminence of the hand.

Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test

Pressure thresholds were evaluated using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (Sorri-Bauru, Bauru, Brazil)[4], with adequate technique. The filaments were differentiated by colors as 1-green (0.05 g), 2-blue (0.2 g), 3-purple (2.0 g), 4-red (4.0 g), 5-orange (10.0 g) and 6-pink (300 g). The color black was used when no response was obtained. The lowest filament number detected reliably on two or more of four trials was recorded.

Location of perception of sensation

The location of perception of sensation in the median nerve territory of the hand was assessed using moving touch with the lowest monofilament detected.

Vibration perception

Perception of vibration was assessed with a tuning fork of 256-cycles/second stimuli touching directly on the sites of testing by the examiner. The results were recorded as being perceptible or not perceptible and where the location of perception was.

Temperature perception

A steel bar warmed in 50°C hot water and an ice bar were used for these tests, and were recorded as warmth being perceptible or not, and as cold being perceptible or not, respectively. The steel bar and ice bar were touched directly on the sites of testing by the examiner.

Static and moving two-point discrimination

The two-point discrimination tester developed by Mackinnon and Dellon was used for these tests[5], using the methods described by Dellon[6].

The results of sensory recovery were classified according to Highet's scale[7],[8].

S0: No recovery of sensitivity in the autonomous zone of the nerve;

S1: Recovery of deep cutaneous pain sensation within the autonomous zone of the nerve;

S1+: Recovery of superficial pain sensitivity;

S2: Recovery of superficial pain and some touch sensitivity;

S2+: As in S2, but with overresponse;

S3: Recovery of pain and touch sensitivity with disappearance of the overresponse;

S3+: As in S3, but localization of the stimulus is good and there is imperfect recovery of two-point discrimination;

S4: Complete recovery;

RESULTS

Ten patients perceived at least the 4-red filament at the territory of the median nerve. The best result on Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing was perception of the 1-green filament in four patients. The 2-blue filament was perceptible in one patient, the 3-purple in two patients and the 4-red in three patients.

Six patients felt sensation only in the cutaneous distribution of the repaired nerve in the hand. One patient had double sensation in the cutaneous distribution of both the median nerve in the hand and in the posteromedial aspect of the proximal arm that corresponded to the cutaneous distribution of the ICBN. Three patients had referred sensitivity only in the cutaneous distribution of the ICBN.

Vibration with 256-cycles/second stimuli was perceived in seven patients. Ten patients had perception of both warmth and cold. None of the patients had two-point discrimination. One patient experienced no sensory recovery at all.

According to the Highet scale, sensation recovered to S3 in two patients, to S2+ in two patients, to S2 in six patients, and S0 in one patient.

These data are shown in [Table 1].

Table 1 Sensory recovery results.

Case number	Highet's scale	Monofilament detected	Location of perception	Vibration perception	Temperature perception	Two-point discrimination
2	S2	3-purple	arm	(+)	(+)	(-)
3	S2	2-blue	arm	(+)	(+)	(-)
9	S2	4-red	hand	(-)	(+)	(-)
10	S2	4-red	hand	(-)	(+)	(-)
11	S2	3-purple	arm	(+)	(+)	(-)
12	S2+	1-green	hand	(+)	(+)	(-)
13	S2	4-red	hand	(-)	(+)	(-)
14	S3	1-green	hand	(+)	(+)	(-)
16	S2+	1-green	hand	(+)	(+)	(-)
17	S0	black	(-)	(-)	(-)	(-)
18	S3	1-green	Hand and arm	(+)	(+)	(-)

+: positive result; -: negative result.

DISCUSSION

The anesthetic hand in complete brachial plexus avulsion exposes patients to secondary injuries[9]. With the objective of promoting protection to the patient's hands and fingers, sensory reconstruction should be one of the priorities of the surgery. However, often treatment is focused only on motor recovery and the sensory recovery is neglected.

The median nerve should be the recipient nerve for sensory reconstruction because of its wider sensory cutaneous distribution in the hand, including the pinch territory. Previous studies have described limited results using grafts, supraclavicular nerve, intercostal nerves or contralateral C7 as donors[10] ^- [24]. Detailed data are shown in [Table 2].

Table 2 Results of sensory recovery in previous studies.

Author(s), year	Number of patients / donor(s)	Results
Kotani et al., 1971[11]	15 / ICNs	Limited sensitivity in 11 patients
Millesi, 1977[12]	18 / grafts or ICNs	Protective sensitivity in 15 patients
Narakas and Hentz, 1988[13]	9 / ICNs	“Good recovery” in 4 patients
Sedel, 1982[14]	22 / grafts or ICNs	S1 in 14 patients
Kawai et al., 1988[15]	13 / ICNs	S2 in 5 patients
Nagano et al., 1989[16]	4 / ICNs	Protective sensitivity in 4 patients
Ogino e Naito, 1995[17]	10 / ICNs	Protective sensitivity in 10 patients
Ihara et al., 1996[18]	13 / ICNs in 3 and SCN in 10	S2 in 3 patients using ICNs and S2 in 2 patients using SCN
Gu et al., 1998[19]	8 / CC7	S3 in 6 patients
Songchaoren et al., 2001[20]	21 / CC7	S3 in 10 patients, S2 in 7 patients
Chen et al., 2007[21]	12 children / CC7	S3+ in 6 patients, S3 in 6 patients
Terzis et al., 2008[22]	29 / CC7	S3 in 12 patients, S2 in 10 patients
Hattori et al., 2009[10]	17 / ICNs and/or ICBN	S2+ in 2 patients, S2 in 9 patients, S1 in 6 patients
Gao et al., 2013[23]	22 / CC7	S3 in 10 patients
El-Gammal et al., 2014[24]	5 children / ICNs or CC7	S2 in 5 patients

CC7: contralateral C7; ICBN: intercostobrachial nerve; ICNs: intercostal nerves; SCN: supraclavicular nerve.

The study by Hattori et al.[10] is the only one in the literature mentioning the use of the ICBN as a donor in sensory nerve transfers for the hand. They speculated that they had better results than previous studies as a consequence of the use of the ICBN, in association with other intercostal nerves.

To evaluate the use of the ICBN exclusively, as a donor of sensory fibers to the LCMN, we conducted this clinical study.

The location of perception in the previous studies was in the donor nerve(s) territory, with the exception of two patients in the study by Hattori et al.[10], who felt the stimuli in the recipient nerve territory. That means that if the donor was the supraclavicular nerve, a stimulus made in the hand was felt in the supraclavicular region; in the lateral chest with the intercostal nerves as donors, and in the contralateral arm with C7 as donor. This could be explained by the fact that these areas are in different and distant regions of the brain map, as proposed by Penfield and Boldrey[25].

The need for better results for sensory recovery in the hand following brachial plexus surgery, in terms of the intensity of sensation (Highet's scale) and location of perception, led us first to conduct an anatomical study that demonstrated the feasibility of the ICBN to the LCMN sensory nerve transfer[3], with some very interesting results using this technique.

After a nerve lesion, a topographical reorganization of the somatosensory cortex occurs, resulting in a rapid invasion of the previous nerve cortical area by the adjacent nerves areas[26],[27]. Then, as the ICBN is a branch of the second intercostal nerve[28] that innervates a cutaneous area covering the axilla and posteromedial aspect of the arm[29], it is possible that its cortical area expands after a complete brachial plexus avulsion invading the whole arm cortical territory.

We believe that the ICBN has a great advantage over other nerve donors because of these inherent conditions and proximity of its cortical area to the median nerve area, facilitating the cerebral plasticity. This could explain why our results, in terms of location of perception, are better than those of previous studies, and are better or similar to the best results of prior studies in adults, in terms of intensity of perception.

In conclusion, the ICBN as a sensory donor has the advantage of restoring a good intensity of sensation, and the best result in location of perception, when compared to other nerve donors. This technique may be helpful for nerve surgeons dealing with the devastating complete brachial plexus avulsion.

Conflict of interest:

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

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Publication History

Received: 30 July 2017

Accepted: 14 August 2017

Article published online:
01 September 2023