[Ulnar nerve fascicle transfer onto to the biceps muscle nerve in C5-C6 or C5-C6-C7 avulsions of the brachial plexus. Eighteen cases].

The authors report 18 cases of transfer of several ulnar nerve fascicles onto the biceps muscle nerve, performed between 1990 and 1997. The patients were between the ages of 17 and 41 years, and presented C5-C6 paralysis in 8 cases and C5-C6-C7 paralysis in 10 cases. The operation was tempted between 4 months and 6 years (m = 17 months) after the initial accident. In the 8 cases of C5-C6 paralysis reviewed, 7 patients recovered elbow flexion and only one required an additional Steindler transfer. In the 9 cases of C5-C6-C7 paralysis reviewed, 4 patients recovered elbow flexion after nerve surgery alone, while 4 patients only obtained elbow flexion after a complementary Steindler transfer. Two of these 4 patients were operated very late (27 and 75 months). Finally, a single 40-year-old patient, operated 28 months after the accident, was considered to be a complete failure. Overall, ulnar biceps nerve transfer appears to be indicated in C5-C6 avulsion, during the months following the initial accident. Flexion against gravity is then regularly obtained in less than 6 months, without any objective or subjective sequelae of the hand.