United Brachial Plexus Network

Hi everyone, just wanted to get see if there are any people out there with some positive results from nerve transfer surgery. I have a C5-C6 avulsion and was operated on 6 months post accident.
Dr. Nath did the surgery on Nov.26/02. There was quite a bit of scar tissue removed from the plexus as well as 4 nerve transfers done. He used the C4 nerve to inervate the suprascapular nerve going in through an incision along my clavicle.
Next he made an incision in my arm pit and down my lats to repair my deltoid nerves. He used the motor branches of the thorcadorsal nerve to transfer to 2 branches of the axillary nerve. One to run my deltoid and the other to run the teres minor muscle.
The last incision was along my bicep. He hooked the musculocutaneous nerve to the median nerve.
After surgery I was very limited to movement for 3 weeks following up with ROM exercices. I do have some muscle contractures in my upper chest but I am stretching it as much as possible everyday. I also do electrical stimulation everyday to stop any more atrophy.
I don't have any flickers in muscles yet but every now and then I am getting weird burning shots in my bicep and deltoid. I am hoping this is my nerves trying to fire. Also I get these really itchy periods in my deltoid which I can't scratch as I have no feeling on the skin.
Dr. Nath says it's possible to get up 80-90% use of the bicep back but who knows how much of the deltoid will come back.
Has anyone had good results from this surgery and how long before I should see results?

HI BILL,
ABOUT YOUR QUESTIONS, I HAD TRANSPLANTS BUT DR. KLINE USED THE TWO (ARE MAYBE ONE) NOT REAL SURE, NERVES OUT OF MY LEGS. THE SCRACHING HAPPENED IN MY WHOLE ARM AND DOWN TO MY HAND.THIS DID GO AWAY. I CAN MOVE MY ARM UP AND OF COURSE GRAVITY PULLS IT DOWN. THIS HAPPENED ON 3-21-87, EVERY THING WAS GOING ALL RIGHT UNTIL ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. MY ARM,FOR SOME ODD REASON,HAS WOKE UP !!!!!!!! NOW WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A DR. TO MAKE IT GO BACK TO SLEEP. THIS HAS BEEN A HARD THING. I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT THE FEELING AND MOVEMENT CAME BACK IN ABOUT ONE -TWO YEARS. I WENT TO THERAPY FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS TO MAKE WHAT EVER WAS GOING TO COME BACK STRONG. I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS WHOLE THING IS SSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWW !!!!!!!GOOD LUCK AND KEEP INFORMED JOAN/RUSTY

Bill - just wanted to say that nerves grow in at one inch a month...slow as molasses. Your patience will be a virtue. Hope you can tolerate the wait.
I wish you the best of luck with your recovery.
-francine

It took me a good solid year before I saw any real results.

Be patient and hopefully things will happen. Altho the grafts can take years to show positive results, the specialists usually check that the repair has 'taken' and that regneration is happening by looking for a Tinel's sign http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/1563.html
They usually do this not too long after the surgery just to check it is working. Functional results may not be apparent for years and you don't want to be waiting around if the graft hasn't 'taken' at all.
I'm talking about how the UK guys do things, it may be that because so many of you travel out of state for treatment your specialists don't do this follow up but it's worth asking if they checked for a positive Tinel's sign.

Bill,
my son Errett was hurt in oct 1997, c5 & c6 alvulion and we went to Kline and Tiel (at New Olreans) he nad nerve grafts ( from the back of his leg) had 4 nerve grafts C5 to C4 had 2 graft that were 2 1/2 ins. and c6 to c7 had 2 grafts that were 2 1/2 ins.
the surgery was in april 1998 he had movement and twiching of his arm in may 1998 he went rehab 3 days a week for 2 1/2 years they retrained ( shocked his nerves) to get he movement right.
he had full recovery by feb 2001
and looking at him you can not tell he was hurt other than his scars.
good luck in your long recovery,
we were told the nerves grow a cenitmeter a month

Thanks a lot for your reply Dianna. I was wondering if there were ant total recovery stories out there. It gives a person hope anyway.

I had a nerve transfer 9 months post injury, a nerve from my leg. I have noticed little thing, grip, strength in my hand and the stability of my shoulder, that was the best. My shoulder would sub-lex(sp) fall out of socket, today 14 months later, not at all. Good luck!

I was wondering about that. Because I am now 6 months post surgery and my bicep is coming along fine but my shouder hasn't shown any signs of recovery yet as it is still sublexed. It's good to know that it can heal.
Thanx,
Bill

Bill, thats great to hear that you are having luck with your bicept!! thats what i am hoping for, was hoping for with the nerve transfer, but nothing yet for me there! the shoulder has been great though! good luck with your shoulder and keep writing!
~Courtney