Oberlin transfer and partial radial to axillary nerve neurotization to repair an explosive traumatic injury to the Brachial Plexus in a child: Case report

Joseph H. Miller, Sarah T. Garber, Don E. McCormick, Ramin Eskandari, Marion L. Walker, Elias Rizk, R. Shane Tubbs, John C. Wellons

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Explosive injuries to the pediatric brachial plexus are exceedingly rare and as such are poorly characterized in the medical literature. Methods: Herein, we describe an 8-year-old who was struck in the neck by a piece of shrapnel and suffered multiple vascular injuries in addition to a suspected avulsion of the cervical 5 and 6 ventral rami. The patient had a complete upper brachial plexus palsy and failed to demonstrate any clinical improvement at 6-months follow-up. He was taken to the operating from for a partial ulnar to musculocutaneous nerve neurotization as well as a partial radial to axillary nerve neurotization. Results: The patient's motor exam improved from a Medical Research Council scale 1 to 4+ for biceps brachii and 0 to 4 deltoid function with greater than 90 of shoulder abduction. Conclusions: This outcome supports complex neurotization techniques as viable treatment options for persistent motor deficits following an upper brachial plexus injury in older, non-infant age, children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2105-2109
Number of pages5
JournalChild's Nervous System
Volume29
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Clinical Neurology

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