Journal of Neurosurgery

May 2011 / Vol. 114 / No. 5 / Pages 1457-1460

Article

Transfer of the teres minor motor branch for triceps reinnervation in tetraplegia
Case report

Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of the South of Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Abbreviations used in this paper: BMRC = British Medical Research Council; EMG = electromyography; SCI = spinal cord injury.
Address correspondence to: Jayme A. Bertelli, M.D., Ph.D., Rua Newton Ramos 70, apto 901, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88015395, Brazil. email: .

Please include this information when citing this paper: published online January 21, 2011; DOI: 10.3171/2010.12.JNS101519.

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By Keywords:
tetraplegia, nerve transfer, elbow extension

Abstract

In a case involving tetraplegia and paralysis of elbow extension, the authors transferred teres minor branches to the nerve of the triceps long head. Surgery was performed bilaterally 9 months after the patient sustained a spinal cord injury. Fourteen months postoperatively, elbow extension was complete (British Medical Research Council Score M4). Harvesting of the teres minor motor branch produced no deficits in shoulder function. In patients with tetraplegia, nerve transfer seems to be a promising new alternative for elbow extension reconstruction.