CHAPTER 15 Nerve repair/nerve transfer strategies for adult brachial plexus palsies

Rajiv Midha, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), Jacob D. de Villiers Alant, MBChB, MMed, FRCS(C)

Summary box

1 The principles applicable to management of various patterns of stretch injuries provide a logical approach to most brachial plexus palsies.

2 Appropriate injury patterns should be recognized and referred early for optimal results.

3 Repair strategies are directed toward utilizing available nerve elements to reinnervate priority muscles (and skin) for maximal functional recovery.

4 Incomplete loss, significant sparing, or early return of function can lead to good spontaneous recovery in that element’s distribution. However, seriously stretched or avulsed elements frequently will not recover.

5 Limitations in the precision of findings, such as paraspinal denervation, positive somatosensory nerve action potentials (SSEPs), and even abnormal myelography, point to the continuing importance of intraoperative exploration, evaluation, and electrodiagnostic studies.

6 Signs of severe proximal injury and evidence supporting avulsion, particularly of C5, C6, and C7 nerves, argue against successful direct repair of the plexus.

7 Neurotization (nerve transfers) using the descending cervical plexus, the accessory nerve, pectoral branches, intercostal nerves, and intraplexal fascicular elements, has been added with increasing frequency to any nerve repair paradigm.

8 C5 and C6 nerve distribution stretches have a relatively low incidence of avulsion, sometimes recover spontaneously, and may include damage to C7. These injuries are excellent candidates for direct repair, and when aided by neurotization, produce very good results.

9 C5 through Tl nerve distribution stretches are difficult to repair, although almost 50% of those selected for operation regain some shoulder and arm function. Graft repair from a single nerve root (often C5) is frequently augmented with neurotization in these cases.

10 Repair of the lateral and posterior cords and their branches, such as in the musculocutaneous and axillary nerves, provides surprisingly good results. Medial cord recovery is generally poor if resection and repair is necessary; however, repair of the medial cord to the median nerve lesion is useful in the majority of cases.

Introduction

The field of brachial plexus surgery has developed dramatically over the last half century. Increasing optimism has resulted from improved functional results from advances in preoperative imaging techniques, intraoperative electrodiagnostic testing methods, and ingenious nerve repair and transfer techniques.

Incidence

Brachial plexus injuries comprise approximately one-third of peripheral nerve injuries and are seen in slightly more than 1% of patients presenting to a trauma facility.¹ Most of these injuries (>60%) are located at the supraclavicular plexus and are more likely (52%) to require surgery due to the severity of these injuries. Infraclavicular lesions are less likely (17%) to be operated on, with half of these cases found to have neurapraxic injuries. Of the supraclavicular plexal injuries having surgery due to the lack of clinical recovery, 67% will have involvement of lower plexal (C8 and T1 spine nerve) elements. Half of these with pan-plexal involvement will have avulsed some spinal nerves, and exceedingly few will regain any useful function without intervention. On the contrary, in patients whose lower plexal elements are spared and the primary injury is less extensive, up to 25% will have good functional recovery of involved elements after neurolysis and without nerve repair.²

Classification

The basic principles for management of closed traumatic brachial plexus palsies can also be applied to non-traumatic cases. Most brachial plexus palsies are trauma-related, with stretch-contusion injuries having the worst prognosis.³ Penetrating and lacerating injuries are managed a bit differently, as are tumor and compression or ischemic-type lesions. Inflammatory lesions that may involve plexus elements, such as Parsonage-Turner syndrome, are rarely managed surgically.

Focal crush, transection, or avulsion injuries do occur, but most adult plexus injuries involve combinations of individual nerve elements with differing degrees of injury and over varying distances. Therefore, injury patterns are exceedingly variable according to individual injury mechanisms and anatomical variations.

Injury patterns can be separated artificially into supraclavicular and infraclavicular injuries. The supraclavicular plexus refers to the C5–T1 spinal nerves and the upper, middle, and lower trunks with their branches and divisions (Figure 15.1). Common injury patterns involving upper plexus elements are “Erb“ (predominantly C5+C6) and “Erb plus” (C5–7) palsies. Lower plexus elements (C8+T1) are rarely involved in isolation and are more likely to be avulsed.

Figure 15.1 Diagram of right brachial plexus, showing its relationship to clavicle.

Clinical grading

On presentation, an attempt should be made to localize the injury to the involved plexus elements, with a thorough history and physical examination supplemented by electrodiagnostic and imaging investigations. Examination should suggest either “complete”, “incomplete”, or “no functional loss” of each element. The British Medical Research Council (MRC) grading system (0–5) is most commonly used to grade muscle power as an indicator of injury. Management is guided mostly by motor function. The relative complexity and vast spectrum of injury patterns of the brachial plexus requires an in-depth understanding of the basic anatomy and the principles of nerve injury and repair in order to logically formulate individual management strategies.

Goals and priorities

Generally, the main achievable objectives in treating severe brachial plexus injuries are to restore shoulder abduction, external rotation, elbow flexion, and forearm supination.⁴ The combination of these movements allows the patient to hold a food tray, bring his hand to his mouth, and to push doors open while carrying items with the healthy arm. Some experts also advocate attempting restoration of wrist extension and shoulder adduction. Restoration of sensation is a secondary objective and primarily directed to the median nerve distribution. Unfortunately, intrinsic hand function is more difficult to restore, with generally poor outcomes when repairing or grafting to lower trunk elements. Therefore, in view of the limited available options, focus should be directed toward the more reliably attainable goals listed above. It is essential that the surgical strategy be planned thoughtfully to maximize functional outcome. It is also vital that joint range of motion be preserved for the return of function. Within the limited time-window that exists to facilitate reinnervation of key muscle groups, there is usually no second opportunity to attain this if the first attempt should fail.

Surgical strategies

Strategies for surgical treatment can be grouped into 5 broad categories:

Neurolysis

This implies thorough exploration and external (circumferential) neurolysis without further intervention when the nerve is found to be regenerating (positive nerve action potentials [NAPs] across injured nerve) and is not intended to be therapeutic. This is performed at 3–6 months, in the absence of clinical signs of reinnervation.

Suture (end-to-end) repair

This is the ideal in cases of focal injury, when nerve ends can be re-approximated without tension.⁵ It is the goal at early exploration of sharp penetrating injuries (within 72 hours). Few surgeons advocate implantation of avulsed spinal nerve rootlets.

Graft (direct) repair

A gap must be breached between 2 unscarred nerve ends to provide a conduit for regenerating axons when regenerating NAPs are negative. Sural nerve or local expendable sensory nerves are used for long gaps. For short gaps up to 3 cm, commercially available tubular conduits may be used (Figure 15.2).^6,⁷

Figure 15.2 A nerve tube is sized to fit the short gap between the 2 nerve ends (indicated by the white arrows).

Neurotization (nerve transfers)

An expendable donor nerve or fascicle is redirected to a foreign distal nerve stump to reinnervate and restore function to a denervated end-organ (muscle or skin). The donor nerve is brought as close as possible to the new end-organ, to shorten the regeneration distance. This allows for earlier reinnervation and improved functional outcomes. Most nerve transfers can be accomplished without the use of interposition grafts, which translates to one micro-suture repair site compared to 2 for graft repairs. There is a correspondingly decreased likelihood of axon loss in primary repair (and/or their misdirection) with fewer repair sites.

Salvage procedures

Tendon and free muscle transfers, occasionally with shoulder arthrodesis, can be performed with reasonable success.^8,⁹ Unlike nerve repair and transfer techniques, timing of these procedures is less important and is usually delayed until no further recovery is expected. Limb amputation is now rarely required. There is also an emerging field of bionics that may offer additional options in the future.

Currently there are no absolute guidelines when direct plexo-plexal repairs are not possible or are contraindicated, although Table 15.1 reflects some practical considerations. We consider the following to be appropriate conditions for performing nerve transfers:

1 Brachial plexus root avulsions, or very proximal intraforaminal injury of spinal nerves, with no or poor nerve stumps available to coapt to nerve grafts.

2 Severe injury to lower (C8+T1) spinal nerves, lower trunk, and medial cord when expendable donor nerves are available.

3 Very proximal injuries with a long distance to the target muscle; for instance, a high (axillary or arm) ulnar nerve lesion.

4 Significant vascular and/or bony injuries in the brachial plexus region: nerve transfers are performed to avoid the injured or scarred area to reduce damage to vital structures.

5 Delayed presentation and/or long interval from injury to surgery. Ideal time for direct nerve repair is up to 6 months following the injury (which can be extended to 12 months in certain situations).

6 Previously failed brachial plexus or proximal nerve repair. Because of closer proximity of the donor to the end-organ, the viable time window can be extended to 12 months or beyond.

Table 15.1 Relative contraindications for exploration and direct repair of plexus stretch injuries

1 Evidence of proximal spinal nerve injury at multiple levels, such as extensive paraspinal, rhomboid, anterior serratus, or diaphragmatic paralysis.

2 Presence of sensory nerve action potentials from peripheral nerves (median, radial, and ulnar), whose sensory domains are anaesthetic, supporting preganglionic injury.

3 Presence of pseudomeningoceles at multiple spinal nerve levels, especially upper levels.

4 Presence of extensive fractures of cervical spine or serious cervical myelopathy.