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Goubier JN, Battiston B, Casanas J, Quick T. Adult traumatic brachial plexus injuries: advances and current updates. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2024; 49:734-746. [PMID: 38366385 DOI: 10.1177/17531934241229201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Nerve grafting, tendon transfer and joint fusion are routinely used to improve the upper limb function in patients with brachial plexus palsies. Newer techniques have been developed that provide additional options for reconstruction. Nerve transfer is a tool for restoring upper limb function in total root avulsions where nerve grafting is not possible. In partial brachial plexus injuries, nerve transfers can greatly improve shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand function. Intraoperative electrical stimulation can be used to diagnose precisely which nerve is injured and to choose which nerve fascicles should be transferred. Finally, measuring the postoperative outcome can improve the evaluation of our techniques. The aim of this article was to present the current techniques used to treat patients with brachial plexus injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Noel Goubier
- Brachial Plexus and Nerve Surgery Institute, Paris, France
- Hôpital Privé Paul d'Égine, Clinique la Francilienne, Champigny sur Marne, France
- Institut de la Main, Clinique Bizet, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Battiston
- UOD Reconstructive Microsurgery, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Tom Quick
- Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London, UK
- Peripheral Nerve Injury Unit, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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Harhaus L, Aman M, Pennekamp A, Weidner N, Panzram B, Gohritz A. The Surgical Restoration of Arm and Hand Function in Tetraplegic Patients. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 120:627-632. [PMID: 37378597 PMCID: PMC10600922 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are approximately 140 000 people in Germany with spinal cord injury, with approximately 2400 new patients each year. Cervical spinal cord injuries cause, to varying degrees, weakness and impairment of everyday activities of the limbs (tetraparesis, tetraplegia). METHODS This review is based on relevant publications retrieved by a selective search of the literature. RESULTS From among 330 initially screened publications, 40 were included and analyzed. Muscle and tendon transfers, tenodeses, and joint stabilizations yielded reliable functional improvement of the upper limb. Tendon transfers improved the strength of elbow extension from M0 to an average of M3.3 (BMRC) and grip strength to approximately 2 kg. In the long term, 17-20% of strength is lost after active tendon transfers and slightly more after passive ones. Nerve transfers improved strength to M3 or M4 in over 80% of cases, with the best results overall in patients under 25 years of age who underwent early surgery (within 6 months of the accident). Combined procedures in a single operation have been found to be advantageous compared to the traditional multistep approach. Nerve transfers from intact fascicles at segmental levels above that of the spinal cord lesion have been found to be a valuable addition to the established varieties of muscle and tendon transfer. The reported long-term patient satisfaction is generally high. CONCLUSION Modern techniques of hand surgery can help suitably selected tetraparetic and tetraplegic patients regain the use of their upper limbs. Competent interdisciplinary counseling about these surgical options should be offered as early as possible to all affected persons as an integral part of their treatment plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Harhaus
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, Heidelberg University, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen
| | - Martin Aman
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, Heidelberg University, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen
| | - Anna Pennekamp
- Department of Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Rehabilitation, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, Heidelberg University, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen
| | - Norbert Weidner
- Department of Paraplegiology—Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Heidelberg:
| | - Benjamin Panzram
- Upper Limb Section, Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Heidelberg
| | - Andreas Gohritz
- Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
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Leemhuis E, Giuffrida V, De Martino ML, Forte G, Pecchinenda A, De Gennaro L, Giannini AM, Pazzaglia M. Rethinking the Body in the Brain after Spinal Cord Injury. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11020388. [PMID: 35054089 PMCID: PMC8780443 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11020388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are disruptive neurological events that severly affect the body leading to the interruption of sensorimotor and autonomic pathways. Recent research highlighted SCI-related alterations extend beyond than the expected network, involving most of the central nervous system and goes far beyond primary sensorimotor cortices. The present perspective offers an alternative, useful way to interpret conflicting findings by focusing on the deafferented and deefferented body as the central object of interest. After an introduction to the main processes involved in reorganization according to SCI, we will focus separately on the body regions of the head, upper limbs, and lower limbs in complete, incomplete, and deafferent SCI participants. On one hand, the imprinting of the body’s spatial organization is entrenched in the brain such that its representation likely lasts for the entire lifetime of patients, independent of the severity of the SCI. However, neural activity is extremely adaptable, even over short time scales, and is modulated by changing conditions or different compensative strategies. Therefore, a better understanding of both aspects is an invaluable clinical resource for rehabilitation and the successful use of modern robotic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Leemhuis
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Giuffrida
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa De Martino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-6-49917633 (M.P.)
| | - Anna Pecchinenda
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Giannini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Mariella Pazzaglia
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-6-49917633 (M.P.)
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Bunketorp Käll L, Fridén J, Björnsdotter M. Regional estimates of cortical thickness in brain areas involved in control of surgically restored limb movement in patients with tetraplegia. J Spinal Cord Med 2020; 43:462-469. [PMID: 30352011 PMCID: PMC7480520 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2018.1535639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Context/Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes atrophy of brain regions linked to motor function. We aimed to estimate cortical thickness in brain regions that control surgically restored limb movement in individuals with tetraplegia. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sahlgrenska University hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants: Six individuals with tetraplegia who had undergone surgical restoration of grip function by surgical transfer of one elbow flexor (brachioradialis), to the paralyzed thumb flexor (flexor pollicis longus). All subjects were males, with a SCI at the C6 or C7 level, and a mean age of 40 years (range = 31-48). The average number of years elapsed since the SCI was 13 (range = 6-26). Outcome measures: We used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to estimate the thickness of selected motor cortices and compared these measurements to those of six matched control subjects. The pinch grip control area was defined in a previous functional MRI study. Results: Compared to controls, the cortical thickness in the functionally defined pinch grip control area was not significantly reduced (P = 0.591), and thickness showed a non-significant but positive correlation with years since surgery in the individuals with tetraplegia. In contrast, the anatomically defined primary motor cortex as a whole exhibited substantial atrophy (P = 0.013), with a weak negative correlation with years since surgery. Conclusion: Individuals with tetraplegia do not seem to have reduced cortical thickness in brain regions involved in control of surgically restored limb movement. However, the studied sample is very small and further studies with larger samples are required to establish these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Bunketorp Käll
- Centre for Advanced Reconstruction of Extremities (CARE), Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Mölndal, Mölndal, Sweden,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,MedTech West, Röda stråket 10B, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Correspondence to: Lina Bunketorp Käll, Centre for Advanced Reconstruction of Extremities (CARE), Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Mölndal, House U1, 6th floor, 431 80Mölndal, Sweden.
| | - Jan Fridén
- Centre for Advanced Reconstruction of Extremities (CARE), Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Mölndal, Mölndal, Sweden,Department of Tetraplegia Hand Surgery, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
| | - Malin Björnsdotter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Comparison of the Wide-Awake Approach and Conventional Approach in Extensor Indicis Proprius-to-Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Transfer for Chronic Extensor Pollicis Longus Rupture. Plast Reconstr Surg 2020; 145:723-733. [PMID: 32097314 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000006611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wide-awake approach enables surgeons to perform optimal tensioning of a transferred tendon intraoperatively. The authors hypothesized that the extensor indicis proprius-to-extensor pollicis longus tendon transfer using the wide-awake approach would yield better results than conventional surgery. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed of the prospectively collected data of 29 consecutive patients who underwent extensor indicis proprius-to-extensor pollicis longus tendon transfer. Patients were treated with the wide-awake approach (group A, n = 11) and conventional surgery under general anesthesia (group B, n = 18). The groups were compared retrospectively for thumb interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joint motion, grip and pinch strength, specific extensor indicis proprius-to-extensor pollicis longus evaluation method (SEEM), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score at 6 weeks and 2, 4, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS Group A showed significantly better interphalangeal joint flexion and total arc of motion at 6 weeks and 2, 4, and 6 months, and significantly better metacarpophalangeal joint flexion and total arc of motion at all time points. Interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joint extension showed no difference at all time points. Group A showed significantly better specific extensor indicis proprius-to-extensor pollicis longus evaluation method scores at 2 and 4 months, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire scores at 4, 6, and 12 months. Grip and pinch strength showed no difference at all time points. The complication rate and duration until return to work were not different between groups. CONCLUSION Compared with the conventional approach, the wide-awake approach showed significantly better results in the thumb's range of motion and functional outcomes, especially in the early postoperative periods. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, III.
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