The long history of regeneration nerve research indicates many clinical problems with surgical reconstruction to be resolved. One of the promising surgical techniques in specific clinical conditions is end-to-side neurorrhaphy (ETS), described and then repeated with different efficiency in the 1990s of the twentieth century. There are no reliable data on the quality of recipient nerve regeneration, possible donor nerve damage, and epineural window technique necessary to be performed. This research attempts to evaluate the possible regeneration after end-to-side neurorrhaphy, its quality, potential donor nerve damage, and the influence of epineural windows on regeneration efficiency. Forty-five female Wistar rats were divided into three equal groups, and various surgical technics were applied: A—ETS without epineural window, B—ETS with epineural window, and C—free graft reconstruction. The right peroneal nerve was operated on, and the tibial nerve was selected as a donor. After 24 weeks, the regeneration was evaluated by (1) footprint analysis every two weeks with PFI (peroneal nerve function index), TFI (tibial nerve function index), and SFI (sciatic nerve function index) calculations; (2) the amplitude and latency measurements of motor evoked potentials parameters recorded on both sides of the peroneal and tibial nerves when electroneurography with direct sciatic nerve electrical stimulation and indirect magnetic stimulation were applied; (3) histomorphometry with digital conversion of a transverse semithin nerve section, with axon count, fibers diameter, and calculation of axon area with a semiautomated method were performed. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups investigated in all the parameters. The functional indexes stabilized after eight weeks (PFI) and six weeks (TFI and SFI) and were positively time related. The lower amplitude of tibial nerve potential in groups A and B was proven compared to the non-operated side. Neurophysiological parameters of the peroneal nerve did not differ significantly. Histomorphometry revealed significantly lower diameter and area of axons in operated peroneal nerves compared to non-operated nerves. The axon count was at a normal level in every group. Tibial nerve parameters did not differ from non-operated values. Regeneration of the peroneal nerve after ETS was ascertained to be at the same level as in the case of free graft reconstruction. Peroneal nerves after ETS and free graft reconstruction were ascertained to have a lower diameter and area than non-operated ones. The technique of an epineural window does not influence the regeneration result of the peroneal nerve. The tibial nerve motor evoked potentials were characterized by lower amplitudes in ETS groups, which could indicate axonal impairment.

Based on the literature, 294 shoulder arthrodeses after brachial plexus injury in adults were assessed, mostly male; the mean age of the patients was 33 years, and the mean follow-up time was 5.5 years. The most common cause of injury was a traffic accident, especially on a motorcycle. Arthrodesis position ranged from 15 to 40 degrees of flexion, 15 to 60 degrees of abduction, and 0 to 50 degrees of internal rotation with the predominance of position by the 30-30-30 rule. Plates, screws, and external fixation were used for stabilization. The complication rate was at the level of 28%, the most common complication being delayed union or nonunion. Active movements of flexion and abduction averaged 61 and 56 degrees, respectively, while reaching the hand to the mouth, front pocket, and buttock was feasible for 69%, 71%, and 38%, respectively, after surgery. Shoulder pain was present in 77% of patients, and 28% experienced no relevant pain reduction after surgery. The subjective satisfaction rate was 82% based on significant improvement and satisfaction reported by patients after arthrodesis. Arthrodesis of the shoulder, in adult patients after brachial plexus palsy, can reduce shoulder pain, increase stability, and result in a range of motion that increases the possibility of carrying out everyday activities. This affects the high level of subjective patient satisfaction after surgery. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:797-807. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200114

Background: Damage to the upper trunk of the brachial plexus, often caused by high-energy trauma, leads to significant functional impairment of the upper limb. This injury primarily affects the C5 and C6 roots, resulting in paralysis of muscles critical for shoulder and elbow function. If spontaneous nerve regeneration does not occur within 3–6 months post-injury, surgical intervention, including nerve transfers, is recommended to restore function. Methods: This study evaluates long-term outcomes of nerve transfer surgeries performed between 2013 and 2023 on 16 adult patients with post-traumatic brachial plexus injuries. The most common cause of injury was motorcycle accidents. Nerve transfers targeted shoulder and elbow function restoration, including transfer of the accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve, the radial nerve branch to the long or medial head of the triceps brachii to the axillary nerve, or the transfer of motor fascicles of the ulnar and median nerves (double Oberlin) to the brachialis and biceps brachii motor nerves. Results: Postoperative results showed varying degrees of functional recovery. In the shoulder, most patients achieved stabilization and partial restoration of active movement, with average flexion up to 92° and abduction up to 78°. In the elbow, full flexion with M4 strength was achieved in 64% of patients. In both the shoulder and the elbow, double nerve transfers yield better long-term outcomes than single transfers. Secondary procedures, such as tendon transfers, were required in some cases to improve limb strength. Conclusions: The study concludes that nerve transfers offer reliable outcomes in restoring upper limb function, although additional surgeries may be necessary in certain cases.

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are used in neurology as part of a precise diagnostic method to study the transmission of efferent neural impulses at the central and peripheral levels of the nervous system. Previous attempts have been made to apply MEPs in animal studies for evaluating neural transmission at the motor cortex center level to the muscles of the forelimbs and hindlimbs. In clinical and experimental studies, little attention is focused on the significance of the magnetic stimulation of spinal cord structures with the direct recording of the evoked potentials from peripheral nerve motor fibers. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the usefulness of the motor potentials evoked transvertebrally at lumbar levels in the evaluation of experimental peroneal nerve regeneration in rats. The bilateral transmission of efferent impulses in the distal parts of the peroneal and tibial nerves was verified by recordings of evoked potentials following transvertebral magnetic stimulation at lumbar levels (MEPs) and the electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in classical electroneurographic (ENG) tests for comparison. Recordings were performed 24 weeks after grafts on surgically treated hindlimbs as well as on non-operated hindlimbs as controls. Both the MEP and ENG stimulations resulted in evoked potentials with larger amplitude values following the application of the magnetic pulses, with more being recorded on the non-operated hindlimbs than on the operated ones when recordings were taken from peroneal nerve branches. We observed statistically significant correlations between the MEP and ENG results for peroneal and tibial nerve amplitude on the non-operated side and peroneal nerve amplitude on the operated side. The recorded latencies of the evoked potentials were shorter in the ENG studies than in the MEPs for the non-operated side. The results demonstrated the phenomenon of regeneration in the motor fibers of the peroneal nerves 24 weeks after grafting in the experimental conditions. In this study, the MEPs were as useful as the ENG studies for evaluating regeneration in the motor fibers of hindlimb nerves in rats, although they were not significantly different. This paper discusses the clinical importance of transvertebral MEPs induced at the lumbosacral and cervical levels with a magnetic field for the diagnostic evaluation of efferent impulse transmission at different levels of the motor pathway.

Hand surgeons, as unique specialists, appreciate the complexity of the anatomy of the hand. A hand is not merely a group of anatomic structures but a separate organ that works by feeling, sending information to the brain, and enabling a variety of movements, from precise skills to firm tasks. Acute and chronic problems interfere with complicated hand function and potentially influence work or daily life activities for a long time. Thus, the surgeon’s role is to propose appropriate treatment with predictable results. This paper attempts to specify the preoperative considerations and their influence on the choice of surgical procedure and the assessment of results potentially influencing further treatment. We have divided the manuscript by anatomical structures, which is a natural surgical assessment and planning approach. The most common problems were highlighted to introduce the method of decision-making and surgical solutions.