Phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve for the repair of brachial plexus injury: electrophysiological characteristics

Phrenic nerve transfer is a major dynamic treatment used to repair brachial plexus root avulsion. We analyzed 72 relevant articles on phrenic nerve transfer to repair injured brachial plexus that were indexed by Science Citation Index. The keywords searched were brachial plexus injury, phrenic nerve, repair, surgery, protection, nerve transfer, and nerve graft. In addition, we per-formed neurophysiological analysis of the preoperative condition and prognosis of 10 patients undergoing ipsilateral phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve in our hospital from 2008 to 201 3 and observed the electromyograms of the biceps brachii and motor conduc-tion function of the musculocutaneous nerve. Clinically, approximately 28% of patients had brachial plexus injury combined with phrenic nerve injury, and injured phrenic nerve cannot be used as a nerve graft. After phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve, the regener-ated potentials ifrst appeared at 3 months. Recovery of motor unit action potential occurred 6 months later and became more apparent at 12 months. The percent of patients recovering ‘ex-cellent’ and ‘good’ muscle strength in the biceps brachii was 80% after 18 months. At 12 months after surgery, motor nerve conduction potential appeared in the musculocutaneous nerve in seven cases. These data suggest that preoperative evaluation of phrenic nerve function may help identify the most appropriate nerve graft in patients with an injured brachial plexus. The func-tional recovery of a transplanted nerve can be dynamically observed after the surgery.

Bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy:A case report

BACKGROUND Isolated musculocutaneous nerve injury is a rare condition.Herein,we report the first case of bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy after vigorous stretching of both upper extremities with normal results of sensory nerve action potential.Clinicians should be aware of this rare condition that can appear bilaterally.In addition,the interpretation of the aberrant electrodiagnostic study results of this case was discussed.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old male complaining of bilateral forearm tingling and upper extremity weakness visited the outpatient clinic.The symptoms began 6 mo prior,and he visited another hospital before visiting our department.The diagnosis was not made even after cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging,electrodiagnostic study,brain magnetic resonance imaging,and arteriography were conducted.The patient performed unique exercises that stretched the pectoralis minor and coracobrachialis muscles.On the follow-up electrodiagnostic study,abnormal spontaneous activities in the bilateral biceps and brachialis muscles were observed.The patient was diagnosed with bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy.Steroid pulse therapy was administered for approximately 6 wk.After treatment,his muscle strength returned to the predisease condition.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of this condition,have adequate understanding of anatomy,and advise to correct inappropriate exercises.

Swallowing Function before and after Subtotal Glossectomy and Reconstruction with a Rectus Abdominis Musculocutaneous Flap: A Case Report

Purpose: Swallowing function was in a patient with tongue cancer that was evaluated with video fluorography before and after subtotal glossectomy and reconstruction with a rectus abdominis muscuocutaneous flap. Materials and Methods: A 41-year-old man underwent subtotal glossectomy and retained the unilateral posterior mylohyoid and unilateral stylohyoid muscles. The structure of the flap was evaluated postoperatively. To assess swallowing function, video fluorography was performed before surgery, 1 month after surgery and 1 year after surgery. Testing involved 1) ability to hold 10 mL of liquid in the oral cavity, 2) epiglottis turnover, 3) the presence of aspiration, 4) hyoid bone movement, and 5) maximum width of the esophageal entrance. Results: The flap was protuberant postoperatively. The patient was able to hold the test diet in the oral cavity before and after surgery. Epiglottis turnover was good before surgery but insufficient after surgery. Aspiration during swallowing was not observed before or after surgery. At rest, the hyoid bone sagged postoperatively, in comparison with preoperatively. Hyoid bone movement and width of the esophageal entrance decreased after surgery;however, they demonstrated gradual recovery. Conclusions: For good postoperative swallowing function after subtotal glossectomy, it is necessary to perform reconstruction with protuberant flap and to retain the suprahyoid muscles as much as possible.

Comparison of breast reconstruction using ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps

Aim: Breast reconstruction has several beneficial effects on psychosocial well-being and quality of life. The ultimate goal has always been to create the most natural breast mound. Thus in many centers, the unilateral pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap remains the most common technique for breast reconstruction. Our objective was to retrospectively compare the outcomes of ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle TRAM flaps. Methods: The total of 110 patients underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with pedicle TRAM flap at Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Science from January 1996 to June 2011. Premorbid risk factors, postoperative outcomes and demographic data were assessed. The analysis of the recordings was done by SPSS 20. Results: Out of 110 patients who were included in the study, 87 had ipsilateral and 23 contralateral pedicle TRAM flaps. The incidence of flap complications that did not require surgical intervention was 19.7% in ipsilateral and 30.4% in contralateral pedicle TRAM flap. The incidence of flap loss requiring revision was significantly higher in contralateral group (P = 0.001). Major complications were noted in 11.5% of the ipsilateral pedicle TRAM patients and 26.1% of the contralateral group (P < 0.001). Minor complications were noted in 17.2% of the ipsilateral pedicle TRAM patients and in 34.8% of the contralateral group (P < 0.001). Total early hospital stay was longer in contralateral pedicle TRAM flaps (7.66 days vs. 10.68 days, P = 0.83). H igher c omplications were e ncountered i n c ontralateral p edicle T RAM flaps compared to ipsilateral pedicle TRAM patients (39.1% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.001). The type of pedicled TRAM flap (ipsilateral vs. contralateral), had significant effect on complications (odds ratio = 0.007, P = 0.002) while other variables had no significant effect on the incidence of complications. Conclusion: This study indicates that the overall outcome and mid-term morbidity-free survivals of ipsilateral pedicle TRAM flap breast reconstruction are statistically superior to contralateral pedicle TRAM flap breast reconstruction. Both of these procedures are reasonably feasible and safe. These findings lead us to discourage the use of contralateral pedicle TRAM flap when an ipsilateral option is feasible.

Recent advances in microvascular autologous breast reconstruction after ablative tumor surgery

Breast cancer is a ubiquitous disease and one of the leading causes of death in women in western societies. With overall increasing survival rates, the number of patients who need post-mastectomy reconstruction is on the rise. Especially since its psychological benefits have been broadly recognized, breast reconstruction has become a key component of breast cancer treatment. Evolving from the early beginnings of breast reconstruction with synthetic implants in the 1960 s, microsurgical tissue transfer is on the way to become the gold standard for post oncology restoration of the breast. Particularly since the advent of perforator based free flap surgery, free tissue transfer has become as safe option for breast reconstruction with low morbidity. The lower abdominal skin and subcutaneous fat tissue typically offer enough volume to create an aesthetically satisfying breast mound. Nowadays, the most commonly used flap from this donor site is the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. If the lower abdomen is not available as a donor site, the gluteal area and thigh provide a number of flaps suitable for breast recon-struction. If the required breast volume is small, and there is enough tissue available on the upper medial thigh, then a transverse upper gracilis flap may be a practicable method to reconstruct the breast. In case of a higher amount of required volume, a gluteal artery perforator flap is the best choice. However, what is crucial in addition to selecting the best flap option for the individual patient is the timing of the operation. In patients with confirmed post-mastectomy radiation therapy, it is advisable to perform microvascular breast reconstruction only in a delayed fashion.

Diagnosis and operative treatment of radiation-induced brachial plexopathy

To explore the diagnosis and operat ive treatment of radiation induced brachial plexopathy. Methods: Nine cases of radiation induced brachial plexopathy w ere divided into two groups, 4 cases undergoing neurolysis of brachial plexus as Group A and 5 cases undergoing transfer of myocutaneous flaps after neurolysis as Group B. In Group B, 4 cases were treated with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps (about 20 cm×20 cm) and 1 case with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (a bout 8 cm×6 cm). Results: All the 9 cases of radiation induced brachial plexopa thy were followed up for a period of 2 to 5 years, with an average of 2.3 ye ars. As far as pain relief and function recovery were concerned, the results of Group B were better than those of Group A. Conclusions: Based on the results of Group B in the series, we suggest that the procedure of covering the wounds with transferred myocutaneous flaps after neurolysis of the brachial plexus should be performed to those advan ced patients. The procedure may improve the blood supply of the fibrotic brachia l plexus by reestablishing a good nerve bed.