The phrenic nerve transfer in the treatment of a septuagenarian with brachial plexus avulsion injury: a case report

ABSTRACT

Phrenic nerve transfer has been a well-established procedure for restoring elbow flexion function in patients with brachial plexus avulsion injury. Concerning about probably detrimental respiratory effects brought by the operation, however, stirred up quite a bit of controversy. We present a case report of the successful application of phrenic nerve as donor to reinnervate the biceps in a septuagenarian with brachial plexus avulsion injury, not accompanied with significant clinical respiratory problem.

KEYWORDS:

• Phrenic nerve
• brachial plexus
• nerve transfer
• septuagenarian

Disclosure

The patient/next of kin/guardian has consented to submission of this case report to the journal. The authors have no personal financial or institutional interest concerning the materials or methods described in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81572127].