Distal Nerve Transfers for Restoration of Finger Flexion and Extension in Klumpke Birth Palsy: A Case Report.

CASE: Traditional surgical intervention for brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) has involved proximal nerve grafting. At the age of 6 months, an infant with Klumpke birth palsy had not recovered finger flexion and extension. He underwent extensor carpi radialis brevis to anterior interosseous nerve and supinator-to-posterior interosseous nerve transfers. Three months postoperatively, he was noted to have recovery of finger flexion and extension which continued to improve to 18 months postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This case shows effectiveness of early surgical intervention using distal nerve transfers, as opposed to traditional proximal nerve grafting, for reanimating the hand in BPBI.