Surgery on muscles in consequence of peripheral nerve lesions

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Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2007;100:179-81.

Surgery on muscles in consequence of peripheral nerve lesions.

Millesi H.

Millesi Center for the Surgery of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve

Lesions, Vienna Private Clinic, Vienna, Austria.

In peripheral nerve surgery main attention is frequently paid to

surgery on the nerves, and possibilities to increase the chances of

useful recovery by surgery on the muscles are often overlooked.

Overstretching of paralyzed muscles reduces the chances of useful

recovery even if the nerve regenerates well. The same is true if the

paralyzed muscles have to work against an overwhelming force of

antagonists. The weak force of a regenerated muscle can significantly

be improved by synergistic muscle transfer. Different possibilities in

this regard are demonstrated by typical cases.