Ulnar nerve

Abstract: Four patients with C5-C6 root avulsion after brachial plexus injury were treated with a transfer of part of a normal functioning nerve in the arm to the motor nerve of the biceps. Ten percent of the bulk of the ulnar nerve was harvested for a suture directly to the motor nerve of the biceps with no significant impairment of hand function.

Abstract: Reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament using a free tendon graft was performed on sixteen athletes. All participated in sports that involved throwing (mostly professional baseball), and all had valgus instability of the elbow. After reconstruction and rehabilitation, ten of the sixteen patients returned to their previous level of participation in sports, one returned to a lower level of participation, and five retired from professional athletics. Despite precautions, there was a high incidence of complications related to the ulnar nerve. Two patients had postoperative ulnar neuropathy (one late and one early) that required a secondary operation, but they eventually recovered completely. Three others reported some transient postoperative hypoesthesia along the ulnar aspect of the forearm that resolved after a few weeks or months.

Abstract: A novel method for the control of a myoelectric upper limb prosthesis was achieved in a patient with bilateral amputations at the shoulder disarticulation level Four independently controlled nerve-muscle units were created by surgically anastomosing residual brachial plexus nerves to dissected and divided aspects of the pectoralis major and minor muscles The musculocutaneous nerve was anastomosed to the upper pectoralis major; the median nerve was transferred to the middle pectoralis major region; the radial nerve was anastomosed to the lower pectoralis major region; and the ulnar nerve was transferred to the pectoralis minor muscle which was moved out to the lateral chest wall After five months, three nerve-muscle units were successful (the musculocutaneous, median and radial nerves) in that a contraction could be seen, felt and a surface electromyogram (EMG) could be recorded Sensory reinnervation also occurred on the chest in an area where the subcutaneous fat was removed The patient was fitted with a new myoelectric prosthesis using the targeted muscle reinnervation The patient could simultaneously control two degrees-of-freedom with the experimental prosthesis, the elbow and either the terminal device or wrist Objective testing showed a doubling of blocks moved with a box and blocks test and a 26% increase in speed with a clothes pin moving test Subjectively the patient clearly preferred the new prosthesis He reported that it was easier and faster to use, and felt more natural