Post. Approach - Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer - Standard (Feat. Dr. Mackinnon)

Video Description

Posterior Approach - Spinal Accessory to Suprascapular Nerve Transfer - Standard
Authors: Mackinnon SE1, Yee A1
Published: July 3, 2014

AUTHOR INFORMATION
1 Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

DISCLOSURE
No authors have a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this production or publication.

ABSTRACT
Reconstructing shoulder function following a nerve injury is a challenge due to its dynamic movement originating from several muscles. The supra/infraspinatus muscles are critical for shoulder function in that they initiate abduction of the arm, external rotation, and stabilization of the shoulder joint. In upper brachial plexus injuries, it is common to find a deficit in the suprascapular nerve associated with the axillary and musculocutaneous nerves due to their C5,6 root origins. These patients present with no shoulder function or elbow flexion. Reconstruction includes nerve transfers to innervate the axillary and suprascapular nerves for shoulder function. An available donor nerve for restoring the suprascapular nerve includes the spinal accessory nerve from a posterior or anterior approach. The posterior approach utilizes the distal branches of the accessory nerve that innervates the inferior segments of the trapezius. This video portrays that posterior approach. In this case, a 49-year-old male presented post-Schwannoma resection from the upper brachial plexus with a shoulder and elbow flexion deficit. To reconstruct shoulder function, a spinal accessory to suprascapular nerve transfer was elected with a medial triceps to axillary nerve transfer. To reconstruct elbow flexion, a double fascicular nerve transfer was elected. This video details the posterior approach to reconstructing the suprascapular nerve using the spinal accessory nerve.