in upper brachial plexus (c5-c6 or c5-c6-c7 roots) injuries, restoration of elbow flexion is the first aim. several methods have been used to achieve this goal. among these procedures, oberlin’s method (transfer of part of ulnar nerve to the nerve to biceps muscle) is the newest one. from april 2002 to march 2003 we used this method in 9 cases, 8 males and 1 female, of upper brachial plexus inj...

plexus injury. Few studies report the rate of revision surgeries following free functional muscle transfers. We examinedthe reoperation rate and indication for reoperation after primary reconstruction of upper extremity function with a freegracilis transfer after brachial plexus injury.Methods: From 2003-2016, we identified 25 patients who underwent a free functional gracilis ...

Background: Functional free gracilis muscle transfer is an operative procedure for elbow reconstruction in patients with complete brachial plexus nerve and avulsion injuries and in delayed or prolonged nerve denervation, as well as in patients with inadequate upper extremity function after primary nerve reconstruction. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our patient records and identified 24 p...

Fifty thighs from fresh human cadavers were studied to evaluate the feasibility of a double functioning free muscle transfer of the gracilis and adductor longus with single common vascular pedicle anastomosis. Methylene blue intra-arterial injection and loupe-magnified dissection were used to demonstrate three groups of vascular patterns in these two muscles. The common vascular pedicles of 88%...

BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor suppressor syndrome defined by bilateral vestibular schwannomas. Facial paralysis, from either tumor growth or surgical intervention, is a devastating complication of this disorder and can contribute to disfigurement and corneal keratopathy. Historically, physicians have not attempted to treat facial paralysis in these patients. OBJECTIVE T...

Traumatic brachial plexus root avulsions are devastating injuries, and are complex and challenging to reconstruct. Double free muscle transfer using the gracilis muscles is a potentially effective method of restoring upper extremity function. The authors report on the first two patients treated using this technique in Canada. Both sustained traumatic brachial plexus root avulsion injuries resul...

BACKGROUND After complete five-level root brachial plexus injury, free functional muscle transfer and intercostal nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve are two potential reconstructive options for elbow flexion. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of free functional muscle transfer versus intercostal nerve-to-musculocutaneous nerve transfers with respect to strength. ME...

Gracilis free muscle transfer (GFMT) is considered the gold standard in dynamic smile reanimation patients with long-standing facial paralysis. There are multiple motor nerves head and neck that can be used to provide innervation GFMT, either alone or combination. In this article, we review literature about these donor nerve options discuss their advantages disadvantages terms of excursion, spo...