[Clinical comparison of vascularized and non-vascularized full-length phrenic nerve].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical effect of vascularized and non-vascularized full-length phrenic nerve transfer on treating brachial plexus injury.

METHODS

From August 1999 to March 2000, full-length phrenic nerve transfer to musculocutaneous nerve was conducted with the technique of Video-Assisted-Thoracic-Surgery in 15 patients (M 13, F 2) that all suffered from avulsion. Three kinds of procedures were carried out. The first was retaining initial point of phrenic nerve and dissecting full-length distal nerve (group A). The second was keeping cervical segment and isolating thoracic segment of phrenic nerve (group B). The last was vascularized phrenic nerve transfer (group C). All these phrenic nerves were sutured to musculocutaneous nerves. The results of electrophysiology and function of biceps brachii muscle were compared.

RESULTS

The length of the dissecting full-length distal nerves in group A, group B and group C compared with that of conventional operation increased by 17.8 +/- 1.1 cm, 10.2 +/- 1.0 cm and 8.8 +/- 0.5 cm respectively. There was significant difference when group A was compared with group B and group C, when group B was compared with group C. All three procedures had no significant difference and led to the same function recovery of biceps brachii muscle to grade II about 6 months later.

CONCLUSION

There is no difference in treating effect between vascularized and non-vascularized full-length phrenic nerve transfer, when the recipient bed has normal vascularity.