Shoulder muscle reconstruction in the upper type of the brachial plexus injury by partial radial nerve transfer to the axillary nerve.

Brachial plexus palsy with upper segment C5 and C6 root avulsion can be effectively treated using a part of the radial nerve transferred to the axillary nerve. Shoulder stability and abduction was obtained with good deltoid muscle contraction. When combined with spinal accessory nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve, the overall functional result was enhanced. Elbow flexion can be reconstructed by partial median nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve. There were no neurologic deficits after nerve surgery.