Outcomes of Radial Nerve Grafting In Children After Distal Humerus Fracture.

PURPOSE: To report the results of radial nerve grafting in 7 children who sustained a radial nerve injury following a distal humeral fracture.

METHODS

Seven children, mean age 6 years (range, 4-11 years), underwent nerve grafting for radial nerve injuries following distal humeral fractures. The mean interval between injury and surgery was 6.7 months (range, 6-9 months). In all cases, 3 sural nerve graft cables were used, of mean length 8.6 cm (range, 6-12 cm). Mean follow-up was 19.9 months (range, 12-24 months). Wrist, finger, and thumb extension range of motion and strength were evaluated at final follow-up, using the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) rating scale.

RESULTS

The radial nerve was entrapped within the fracture site in 2 patients, and in 5, it was completely interrupted without entrapment. All patients obtained full active wrist extension with grade M4 BMRC strength. For finger extension, all patients were graded as M4, obtaining full metacarpophalangeal finger and thumb extension, with the wrist in neutral in 3 patients and fully extended in 4. During the thumbs-up test, 4 patients achieved complete extension of all thumb joints, and 3 exhibited metacarpophalangeal extension lag, averaging 30°.

CONCLUSIONS

Nerve grafting of radial nerve injuries at the level of the distal humerus in children can yield excellent outcomes.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic V.