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Published in: Child's Nervous System 11/2013

01-11-2013 | Case Report

Oberlin transfer and partial radial to axillary nerve neurotization to repair an explosive traumatic injury to the Brachial Plexus in a child: Case report

Authors: Joseph H. Miller, Sarah T. Garber, Don E. McCormick, Ramin Eskandari, Marion L. Walker, Elias Rizk, R. Shane Tubbs, John C. Wellons

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 11/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

Explosive injuries to the pediatric brachial plexus are exceedingly rare and as such are poorly characterized in the medical literature.

Methods

Herein, we describe an 8-year-old who was struck in the neck by a piece of shrapnel and suffered multiple vascular injuries in addition to a suspected avulsion of the cervical 5 and 6 ventral rami. The patient had a complete upper brachial plexus palsy and failed to demonstrate any clinical improvement at 6-months follow-up. He was taken to the operating from for a partial ulnar to musculocutaneous nerve neurotization as well as a partial radial to axillary nerve neurotization.

Results

The patient’s motor exam improved from a Medical Research Council scale 1 to 4+ for biceps brachii and 0 to 4 deltoid function with greater than 90° of shoulder abduction.

Conclusions

This outcome supports complex neurotization techniques as viable treatment options for persistent motor deficits following an upper brachial plexus injury in older, non-infant age, children.
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Metadata
Title
Oberlin transfer and partial radial to axillary nerve neurotization to repair an explosive traumatic injury to the Brachial Plexus in a child: Case report
Authors
Joseph H. Miller
Sarah T. Garber
Don E. McCormick
Ramin Eskandari
Marion L. Walker
Elias Rizk
R. Shane Tubbs
John C. Wellons
Publication date
01-11-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 11/2013
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-013-2131-7

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