Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach

Background Restoration of shoulder functions is important in brachial plexus injury (BPI). The functional outcomes of spinal accessory nerve (SAN) to suprascapular nerve (SSN) transfer by the anterior supraclavicular approach and the posterior approach is a matter of debate. This article aims to com...

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Main Authors: Sanjay Maurya, Gopi Renganathan, Venkatnarayanan R., Rajiv Bharti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2021-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0041-1731255
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author Sanjay Maurya
Gopi Renganathan
Venkatnarayanan R.
Rajiv Bharti
author_facet Sanjay Maurya
Gopi Renganathan
Venkatnarayanan R.
Rajiv Bharti
author_sort Sanjay Maurya
collection DOAJ
description Background Restoration of shoulder functions is important in brachial plexus injury (BPI). The functional outcomes of spinal accessory nerve (SAN) to suprascapular nerve (SSN) transfer by the anterior supraclavicular approach and the posterior approach is a matter of debate. This article aims to compare the outcomes of the shoulder functions by the SAN to the SSN transfer using the two approaches. Methods Retrospective data was collected in 34 patients who underwent SAN to SSN transfer from January 2016 to June 2018. Group A included 16 patients who underwent nerve transfers by anterior approach, and Group B included 18 patients who underwent nerve transfers by posterior approach. Functional outcomes were measured by grading the muscle power as per the British Medical Research Council (MRC) grading (graded as M) and the range of motions (ROM) of the shoulder at 6 months and 18 months. Results Early recovery was seen in group B with 7 patients (39%) showing M1 abduction power at 6 months as compared with one patient (6%) in group A . This difference was statistically significant (p value = 0.04). At 18 months, 10 patients (62%) in group A had good recovery (MRC grade ≥3), while 13 patients (72%) in group B had a good recovery. This difference was not found to be statistically significant (Fisher exact test p value = 0.71) There was no statistical difference in the outcomes of ROM in shoulder abduction, external rotation, and motor power at 18 months of follow-up. Conclusions Early recovery was observed in the posterior approach group at 6 months, however, there was no significant difference in the outcomes of shoulder functions in muscle power and ROM in the two groups at 18 months of follow-up.
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spelling doaj-art-eeed80c799994c9fa57e413d18a6165d2025-08-20T03:06:30ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2021-04-01540215215610.1055/s-0041-1731255Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior ApproachSanjay Maurya0Gopi Renganathan1Venkatnarayanan R.2Rajiv Bharti3Department of Plastic Surgery, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaBackground Restoration of shoulder functions is important in brachial plexus injury (BPI). The functional outcomes of spinal accessory nerve (SAN) to suprascapular nerve (SSN) transfer by the anterior supraclavicular approach and the posterior approach is a matter of debate. This article aims to compare the outcomes of the shoulder functions by the SAN to the SSN transfer using the two approaches. Methods Retrospective data was collected in 34 patients who underwent SAN to SSN transfer from January 2016 to June 2018. Group A included 16 patients who underwent nerve transfers by anterior approach, and Group B included 18 patients who underwent nerve transfers by posterior approach. Functional outcomes were measured by grading the muscle power as per the British Medical Research Council (MRC) grading (graded as M) and the range of motions (ROM) of the shoulder at 6 months and 18 months. Results Early recovery was seen in group B with 7 patients (39%) showing M1 abduction power at 6 months as compared with one patient (6%) in group A . This difference was statistically significant (p value = 0.04). At 18 months, 10 patients (62%) in group A had good recovery (MRC grade ≥3), while 13 patients (72%) in group B had a good recovery. This difference was not found to be statistically significant (Fisher exact test p value = 0.71) There was no statistical difference in the outcomes of ROM in shoulder abduction, external rotation, and motor power at 18 months of follow-up. Conclusions Early recovery was observed in the posterior approach group at 6 months, however, there was no significant difference in the outcomes of shoulder functions in muscle power and ROM in the two groups at 18 months of follow-up.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0041-1731255nerve transferbrachial plexus injuryposterior approachsuprascapular nervespinal accessory nerve
spellingShingle Sanjay Maurya
Gopi Renganathan
Venkatnarayanan R.
Rajiv Bharti
Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
nerve transfer
brachial plexus injury
posterior approach
suprascapular nerve
spinal accessory nerve
title Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
title_full Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
title_fullStr Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
title_full_unstemmed Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
title_short Outcomes of Shoulder Functions in Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury: A Comparison between Anterior and Posterior Approach
title_sort outcomes of shoulder functions in spinal accessory to suprascapular nerve transfer in brachial plexus injury a comparison between anterior and posterior approach
topic nerve transfer
brachial plexus injury
posterior approach
suprascapular nerve
spinal accessory nerve
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0041-1731255
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