Phrenic Nerve as an Alternative Donor for Nerve Transfer to Restore Shoulder Abduction in Severe Multiple Root Injuries of the Adult Brachial Plexus.

PURPOSE: Nerve transfer is the gold standard to restore shoulder abduction in acute brachial plexus injuries. The aim of this study was to compare the phrenic nerve (Ph) to the spinal accessory nerve (XI) as the donor nerve for this purpose.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on 136 patients with acute brachial plexus injuries who received a nerve transfer of the shoulder with either the Ph (94 patients) or XI (42 patients). Each group was divided into 3 subgroups based on the recipient nerve. The maximum degree of shoulder abduction was recorded after 2 years of postoperative follow-up. A generalized estimating equation model was performed to examine the variables affecting shoulder abduction over time.

RESULTS

The maximum degrees of shoulder abduction achieved were 61.9° ± 38.7° in patients with Ph and 51.1° ± 37.3° in patients with XI. More than M3 shoulder abduction was achieved by 67% of patients with Ph versus 59% of patients with XI. The regression analysis showed that the age at the time of surgery correlated more with the functional outcome over time than the choice of donor nerve.

CONCLUSIONS

In multiple root brachial plexus injuries, the Ph exhibited similar outcomes to the XI for shoulder abduction. Our routine exploration of the supraclavicular plexus exposes the Ph conveniently for nerve transfer. The phrenic nerve should be considered as an alternative when the XI is not available or is reserved for secondary reconstruction.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.