• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2010

Injury of the musculocutanous nerve can be associated with a proximal humeral fracture or shoulder dislocation, and injury of the brachial plexus. However, injury of this nerve associated with a humeral shaft fracture has rarely been reported. Diagnosis of the musculocutaneous nerve injury is difficult because its sensory loss is ill-defined, and examination of elbow flexion is difficult when it is associated with fractures. We report an unusual case of musculocutaneous nerve injury in a 27 years old woman who had multiple injuries including a humerus shaft fracture, an ipsilateral radius shaft fracture, and an associated radial nerve laceration. Diagnosis of the musculocutaneous nerve injury was delayed because combined fractures of the humerus and radius prevented proper examination of the elbow motion and nerve grafting of the radial nerve delayed early elbow motion exercise. Delayed exploration of the musculocutaneous nerve 6 months after trauma showed complete rupture of the nerve at its entry into the coracobrachialis muscle and the defect was successfully managed by sural nerve graft.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2006

After total glossectomy, recovery of swallowing and speech function can greatly improve quality of life. The reconstructed tongue must be thick enough to contact with the hard palate for articulation. If the free flap is denervation, it may procede to have atrophy postoperatively. Therefor it is difficult to maintain the tongue volume for a long period of time. To resolve this problem, we have used a innervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap and maintaining the volume through a neurorrhaphy. 7 patients underwent immediate reconstruction using a reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in which included intercostal nerve was anastomosed to the remaining hypoglossal nerve. The reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap has provided good tongue contour with sufficient bulk and shown no obvious atrophy in all patients even though postoperative 9 months later. Considering swallowing and articulation, we concluded that reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is a viable method after total glossectomy

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-104
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• 2016

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has been performed with promising results in rotator cuff tear arthropathy. However, the global complication of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is relatively higher than that of the conventional total shoulder arthroplasty. Neurologic complications after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are rare but there are sometimes remaining sequelae. The cause of the neurologic complication is multifactorial, including arm traction, position and the design of the implant. Most cases of neurologic palsy following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty occur in the axillary nerve and the radial nerve. The authors report on a case of a 71-year-old man with isolated musculocutaneous nerve palsy after reveres total shoulder arthroplasty with related literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.267-269
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• 2012

Traumatic brachial plexus injuries can be devastating, causing partial to total denervation of the muscles of the upper extremities. Surgical reconstruction can restore motor and/or sensory function following nerve injuries. Direct nerve-to-nerve transfers can provide a closer nerve source to the target muscle, thereby enhancing the quality and rate of recovery. Restoration of elbow flexion is the primary goal for patients with brachial plexus injuries. A 4-year-old right-hand-dominant male sustained a fracture of the left scapula in a car accident. He was treated conservatively. After the accident, he presented with motor weakness of the left upper extremity. Shoulder abduction was grade 3 and elbow flexor was grade 0. Hand function was intact. Nerve conduction studies and an electromyogram were performed, which revealed left lateral and posterior cord brachial plexopathy with axonotmesis. He was admitted to Rehabilitation Medicine and treated. However, marked neurological dysfunction in the left upper extremity was still observed. Six months after trauma, under general anesthesia with the patient in the supine position, the brachial plexus was explored through infraclavicular and supraclavicular incisions. Each terminal branch was confirmed by electrophysiology. Avulsion of the C5 roots and absence of usable stump proximally were confirmed intraoperatively. Under a microscope, neurotization from the musculocutaneous nerve to two medial pectoral nerves was performed with nylon 8-0. Physical treatment and electrostimulation started 2 weeks postoperatively. At a 3-month postoperative visit, evidence of reinnervation of the elbow flexors was observed. At his last follow-up, 2 years following trauma, the patient had recovered Medical Research Council (MRC) grade 4+ elbow flexors. We propose that neurotization from medial pectoral nerves to musculocutaneous nerve can be used successfully to restore elbow flexion in patients with brachial plexus injuries.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2021

MiraDry^®, a microwave thermolysis device, is comparably new non-surgical agent in the field of eradication of sweat glands for treating axillary hyperhidrosis and osmidrosis. So far, altered sensation, swelling, and compensatory sweating are widely known as adverse effects of MiraDry^®. Of the few reported MiraDry^®-induced neuropathy cases, median and ulnar neuropathies are common. Although, one case has described radial nerve and posterior cord damage with maximized stimulation intensity, musculocutaneous nerve damage induced by MiraDry^® has not been reported. Here, we report a case of a 30-year-old woman experiencing left hand weakness after receiving MiraDry^® at a local dermatology clinic. Left brachial plexopathy, mainly involving the median nerve and the musculocutaneous nerve with partial axonotmesis, was confirmed by electrodiagnostic studies. Ultrasound evaluation showed corresponding results. This is the first case report of the musculocutaneous neuropathy by MiraDry^®.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.200-201
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• 1999

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.69.1-69.1
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• 1995

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.730-735
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• 2002

Diaphragm is innervated by phrenic nerve and lower intercostal nerves. For patients with avulsion injury of brachial plexus, an in situ graft of phrenic nerve is frequently used to neurotize a branch of the brachial plexus. We studied short-term and mid-term changes of diaphragmatic level and movement in patients with dissection of phrenic nerve for neurotization. Material and Method : Thirteen patients with division of either-side phrenic nerve for neurotization of musculocutaneous nerve were included in this study. With endoscopic surgical procedure, the intrathoracic phrenic nerve was entirely dissected and divided just above the diaphragm. The dissected phrenic nerve was taken out through thoracic inlet and neck wound and then anastomosed to the musculocutaneous nerve through a subcutaneous tunnel. With chest films and fluoroscopy, levels and movements of diaphragm were measured before and after operation. Result : There was no specific technical difficulty or even minor postoperative complications following endoscopic division of phrenic nerve. After division of phrenic nerve, diaphragm was soon elevated about 1.7 intercostal spaces compared with the preoperative level, but it did not show paradoxical motion in fluoroscopy. More than 1.5 months later, diaphragm returned downward close to the preoperative level (average level difference was 0.9 intercostal spaces; p＝NS). Movement of diaphragm was not significantly decreased compared with the preoperative one. Conclusion : After division of phrenic nerve, the affected diaphragm did not show a significant decrease in movement, and the elevated diaphragm returned downward with time. However, the decreased lung volumes in the last spirometry suggest the decreased inspiratory force following partial paralysis of diaphragm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal morphometric landmarks of the uniting and dividing points of the brachial plexus (BP) in the periclavicular region to provide useful guidance in surgery of BP injuries. Methods: A total of 20 brachial plexuses were obtained from 10 adult, formalin-fixed cadavers. Distances were measured on the basis of the Chassaignac tubercle (CT), and the most lateral margin of the BP (LMBP) crossing the superior and inferior edge of the clavicle. Results: LMBP was located within 25 mm medially from the midpoint in all subjects. In the supraclavicular region, the upper trunk uniting at 21$\pm$7 mm from the CT, separating into divisions at 42$\pm$5 mm from the CT, and dividing at 19$\pm$4 mm from the LMBP crossing the superior edge of the clavicle. In the infraclavicular region, the distance from the inferior edge of the clavicle to the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) origin was 49$\pm$12 mm, to the median nerve origin 57$\pm$7 mm, and the ulnar nerve origin 48$\pm$6 mm. From the lateral margin of the pectoralis minor to the MCN origin the distance averaged 3.3$\pm$10 mm. Mean diameter of the MCN was 4.3$\pm$1.1 mm (range, 2.5-6.0) in males (n = 6), and 3.1$\pm$1.5 mm (range, 1.6-4.0) in females (n = 4). Conclusion: We hope these data will aid in understanding the anatomy of the BP and in planning surgical treatment in BP injuries.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.236-239
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and outcome of selective musculocutaneous neurotomy (SMcN) for spastic elbow. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 14 patients with spasticity of their elbows. The patients were selected using clinical and analytical scales, as well as nerve block tests, for assessment. Their mean age was 37.29 years (range, 19-63 years). SMcN was performed for these patients, and the mean follow-up period was 30.71 months (range, 19-54 months). Results : The modified Ashworth scale (MAS) scores recorded before and after the SMcN showed that the patients' mean preoperative MAS score of $3.28{\pm}0.12$ was improved to $1.71{\pm}0.12$, $1.78{\pm}0.18$, $1.92{\pm}0.16$ and $1.78{\pm}0.18$ at postoperative 3, 6, 12 months and last follow-up, respectively. On the basis of a visual analogue score ranging from 0-100, the patients' mean degree of satisfaction score was $65.00{\pm}16.52$ (range, 30-90). Conclusion : We believe that SMcN can be a good and effective treatment modality with low morbidity in appropriately selected patients who have localized spastic elbow with good antagonist muscles and without joint contracture.