Nerve transfers improve upper limb function in children with acute flaccid myelitis.

OBJECTIVE

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare disease affecting the spinal cord resulting in flaccid weakness that may involve any limb and can lead to significant long-term sequalae.

METHODS

Collected were results on children affected with AFM who were treated with nerve transfer surgery between 2016 and 2024 in a tertiary referral centre.

RESULTS

Eight children underwent 13 upper limb nerve transfers. Surgery was performed on average 15 months after disease onset. The average follow-up time was 27 months. All but one child showed improvement in upper limb function following surgical intervention. Procedures directed at elbow function deficits had better functional outcome compared to nerve transfers for shoulder function.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSION

Standard nerve transfers used for brachial plexus injuries were often not possible in these children due to donor nerve deficits. Alternative and less utilized transfers are discussed. We concluded that selected nerve transfers are a reliable method to restore function in children with AFM.