Common peroneal nerve injuries: results with one-stage nerve repair and tendon transfer

The authors report their experience in the treatment of common peroneal nerve (CPN) injuries using a one-stage procedure of nerve repair and tibialis posterior tendon transfer. A series of 45 patients with traumatic injury and graft repair of the CPN is presented. From 1988 to 1991, the six patients elected for surgery had only nerve repair: five ultimately did not recover, while muscle contraction in the remaining patient was graded M1-2. Since 1991, nerve surgery in our clinic was associated with tendon transfer procedures (39 cases) which were followed by a satisfactory reinnervation rate. Nerve transection and iatrogenic injuries, torsion/dislocation of the knee, complex biosseous fractures of the leg, and gunshot wounds showed excellent to fair results in decreasing order: in nerve sections, muscle recovery scored M3 or M4+ in all the patients, and in nerve ruptures due to severe dislocation of the knee, it was M3 or M4+ in 85% of cases. The association of microsurgical nerve repair and tendon transfer has changed the course of CPN injuries.     

Foot reanimation via nerve transfer to the peroneal nerve using the nerve branch to the lateral gastrocnemius: Case report

Injury to the peroneal nerve can be devastating to a patient’s daily function. By paralyzing the ankle dorsiflexors, peroneal neuropathy results in foot drop. Gait difficulties and other functional limitations impede these patients on a daily basis. Knee and ankle injuries, lacerations, and compression are only a few of many etiologies which make peroneal nerve palsy the most common neuropathy of the lower limb. We present a case of peroneal nerve palsy secondary to an ACL and lateral collateral ligament tears. This 18 year old male underwent foot reanimation via nerve transfer to the peroneal nerve using the branch from the lateral gastrocenus to tibalias anterior muscle branch. The patient was followed and assessed for function during the subsequent two years. This case reports provides a synopsis of this patient’s surgical treatment, as well as a glance into the literature surrounding peroneal nerve transfer.     

Total ankle arthroplasty and tibialis posterior tendon transfer for ankle osteoarthritis and drop foot deformity

Total ankle arthroplasty is an alternative to arthrodesis in selected patients with end-stage arthritis of the ankle. We report on the clinical features, radiographic findings, management and results in a 58-year-old man with associated ankle osteoarthritis and drop foot deformity. The patient was managed with a total ankle arthroplasty and tibialis posterior tendon transfer. Three years after the procedure, the patient was able to walk, had no pain, and had a stable joint with 5° dorsiflexion and 20° plantar flexion.     

Limited plantar incision for flexor digitorum longus tendon harvest in surgical treatment of tibialis posterior tendon insufficiency

BackgroundSurgical correction of stage II tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction (TPTD) commonly utilises the Flexor Digitorum Longus (FDL) tendon to augment the tibialis posterior tendon. The aim of this study is to present our experience and clinical outcomes harvesting the FDL via a limited plantar incision technique.Methods25 flat foot operations for stage II TPTD were performed harvesting the FDL via a limited plantar incision centred half-way between the base of the heel to the base of the 2nd toe and two-thirds from the lateral border of the foot.ResultsThe FDL was isolated with no inter-tendonous connections requiring surgical division. There were no recorded cases of plantar nerve injury nor any technique-related complications observed.ConclusionsThe plantar harvest technique for FDL is safe, provides a long tendon graft for transfer and limits the need for an extensive medial midfoot dissection.     

Outcome of tendon transfer for radial nerve paralysis: Comparison of three methods

Background:

Tendon transfer for radial nerve paralysis has a 100 years history and any set of tendons that can be considered to be useful has been utilized for the purpose. The pronator tress is used for restoration of wrist dorsiflexion, while the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpiulnaris, and flexor digitorum superficialis are variably used in each for fingers and thumb movements. The present study was a retrospective analysis, designed to compare three methods of tendon transfer for radial nerve palsy.

Materials and Methods:

41 patients with irreversible radial nerve paralysis, who had underwent three different types of tendon transfers (using different tendons for transfer) between March 2005 and September 2009, included in the study. The pronator teres was transferred for wrist extention. Flexor carpi ulnaris (group 1, n=18), flexor carpi radialis (group 2, n=10) and flexor digitorum superficialis (group 3, n=13) was used to achieve finger extention. Palmaris longus was used to achieve thumb extention and abduction. At the final examination, related ranges of motions were recorded and the patients were asked about their overall satisfaction with the operation, their ability, and time of return to their previous jobs, and in addition, disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) Score was measured and recorded for each patient.

Results:

The difference between the groups with regard to DASH score, ability, and time of return to job, satisfaction with the operation, and range of motions was not statistically significant (P>0.05). All of the patients had experienced functional improvement and overall satisfaction rate was 95%. No complication directly attributable to the operation was noted, except for proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contracture in three patents.

Conclusion:

The tendon transfer for irreversible radial nerve palsy is very successful and probably the success is not related to type of tendon used for transfer.     

Common peroneal nerve palsy complicating ankle sprain: report of 5 cases and review of the literature

Abstract Common peroneal nerve palsy associated with inversion sprains of the ankle has been mentioned in the literature on a case presentation basis only and is consequently regarded to be a rare complication. The etiologic mechanisms responsible for the nerve impairment have not been clearly identified. The onset of the palsy may be delayed and recovery seems to occur mostly spontaneously. Yet, some of the cases reported in the literature eventually required a surgical treatment, which was always followed by complete recovery. In this paper we present 5 additional cases of this peculiar neuropathy: all the patients were surgically treated, but only in 2 cases we observed a neurological recovery. The relevant literature is also briefly reviewed.     

闭孔神经移位修复腰骶丛神经根撕脱伤的解剖学观察及临床应用

目的 观察闭孔神经移位修复腰骶丛神经根撕脱伤的可行性及临床疗效.方法 取15具成人尸体标本,显露双侧闭孔神经及腰骶丛神经根.测量闭孔神经从主干起始部至闭孔入口处的长度及其在闭孔入口处的横径和纵径,计算横截面积,并在高倍显微镜下计数有髓神经纤维数目.以相同方法测量并计算股神经相应指标.2002年1月至2007年9月,共为5例腰骶丛损伤患者进行闭孔神经移位术.行健侧闭孔神经经椎体前腹膜后通路移位与患侧股神经直接吻合4例,闭孔神经移位与同侧S1神经根直接吻合1例.结果 闭孔神经的平均长度为(10.51±0.9)cm,横径(2.03±0.37)mm,纵径(2.78±0.29)mm,有髓神经纤维数目(5974±1996)根;股神经横径(3.79±0.58)mm,纵径(6.53±0.61)mm,有髓神经纤维数目(15 860±4350)根.术后3～7 d,所有患者供肢内收肌肌力均减弱至2～3级;术后3个月,4级2例,3级2例,2级1例(至术后1年时,内收肌肌力恢复3级).4例修复患侧股神经的患者,术后分别随访8个月～5年,股四头肌肌力4级2例,2级1例,1级1例;1例行闭孔神经移位与同侧S1神经根直接吻合的患者,术后11个月时小腿三头肌及屈趾肌肌力恢复至3级.结论 闭孔神经可作为一个安全有效的动力神经源,用其修复腰骶丛神经根撕脱伤可获得满意疗效.     

Split anterior tibialis tendon transfer to peroneus brevis for spastic equinovarus in children with hemiplegia

PurposeThe aim of this study is to report the safety and eff-cacy of soft-tissue surgery incorporating split transfer of tibi-alis anterior to peroneus brevis (SPLATT-PB) for children with hemiplegic spastic equinovarus.MethodsThis was a retrospective case series of children and adolescents with spastic hemiplegia who had a novel combination of SPLATT-TB, intramuscular tenotomy of tibialis posterior and either spasticity management or gastrocsole-us lengthening as the index surgery. The principal outcome measures were changes in pain and difficulty with shoe wear and radiological parameters obtained from weight-bearing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the affected foot before and after surgery.ResultsA total of 63 patients with symptomatic spastic equinovarus met the inclusion criteria. Mean age at surgery was 9.8 years (6 to 18) and the mean follow-up was seven years (range 3 to 10 years). Foot pain and problems with shoe wear improved after surgery. Seven radiological criteria showed a clinically and statistically significant improvement at follow-up, the majority being in the normal range. There were 11 surgical adverse events, all classified as Modified Cla-vien-Dindo Grade II. Three patients required further surgery for recurrent equinus, eight patients required further surgery for valgus deformities and four patients required bony surgery for residual varus deformities.ConclusionSoft-tissue surgery for spastic equinovarus was successful in the majority of children with spastic hemiplegia, particularly between ages eight and 12 years, resulting in a plantigrade, flexible foot with minimal pain or limitations in shoe-wear. Children younger than 8 years at index surgery were more prone to overcorrection into valgus. Children older than 12 years had persistent varus deformities requiring bony surgery.Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective case series     

Recurrent heel ulcers with calcaneal osteomyelitis in myelomeningocele: Treatment by partial calcanectomy and posterior transfer of tibialis anterior tendon

OverviewCalcaneus deformity of the foot is common in patients with myelodysplasia, mainly due to muscle imbalance. This deformity, especially in ambulatory patients, can result in gait problems and development of pressure sores, which can be complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis.Material and methodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study included 12 patients (18 feet), with calcaneus deformity due to myelomeningocele, and presented with penetrating heel ulcers complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis. The mean age of the included cases was 11 years. The ulcers were unilateral in six patients and bilateral in six. Sensation was absent on the plantar aspect of the foot in all cases. The treatment was done in two stages; The first stage was eradication of infection and obtaining good soft tissue coverage, and the second stage was obtaining motor balance to achieve a more plantigrade and braceable foot.ResultsThe average follow-up period was 19.2 months. In the final follow-up, twelve feet were graded as good, five as fair and one as poor according to Legaspi grading system.ConclusionThe combination of partial calcanectomy and subsequent transfer of tibialis anterior tendon, to improve the foot position and gait, can efficiently prevent ulcer recurrence in myelomeningocele patients with calcaneal deformity.Level of clinical evidence: 4Retrospective case series study.     

Neurotized lateral gastrocnemius muscle transfer for persistent traumatic peroneal nerve palsy: Surgical technique

IntroductionPersistent traumatic peroneal nerve palsy, following nerve surgery failure, is usually treated by tendon transfer or more recently by tibial nerve transfer. However, when there is destruction of the tibial anterior muscle, an isolated nerve transfer is not possible. In this article, we present the key steps and surgical tips for the Ninkovic procedure including transposition of the neurotized lateral gastrocnemius muscle with the aim of restoring active voluntary dorsiflexion.Surgical techniqueThe transposition of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle to the tendons of the anterior tibial muscle group, with simultaneous transposition of the intact proximal end of the deep peroneal nerve to the tibial nerve of the gastrocnemius muscle by microsurgical neurorrhaphy is performed in one stage. It includes 10 key steps which are described in this article. Since 1994, three clinical series have highlighted the advantages of this technique. Functional and subjective results are discussed. We review the indications and limitations of the technique.ConclusionEarly clinical results after neurotized lateral gastrocnemius muscle transfer appear excellent; however, they still need to be compared with conventional tendon transfer procedures. Clinical studies are likely to be conducted in this area largely due to the frequency of persistant peroneal nerve palsy and the limitations of functional options in cases of longstanding peripheral nerve palsy, anterior tibial muscle atrophy or destruction.     

膈神经移位治疗臂丛损伤的临床应用和早期疗效

目的探讨膈神经移位至肌皮神经重建屈肘功能的临床应用及早期疗效。方法对8例臂丛根性撕脱伤行膈神经移位术，膈神经与上干前股的肌皮神经束直接吻合5例，膈神经通过神经移植桥接至肌皮神经3例，术后随访评定其屈肘功能。结果8例经10月-2年随访，肱二头肌肌力在2级以上5例，有效率62．5％。结论膈神经移位术是治疗臂丛根性撕脱伤的理想术式，重视术前和术中膈神经功能的评估、神经移位时吻合方法的合理选择和术后综合康复锻炼是提高手术疗效关键。     

An analysis of results after selective tendon transfers through the interosseous membrane to provide selective finger and thumb extension in chronic irreparable radial nerve lesions

PURPOSE: We present the results of a modified tendon transfer for the restoration of wrist and finger extension in irreparable radial nerve lesions. METHODS: Restoration of wrist extension, finger extension, thumb extension, and thumb abduction was done in 29 patients (20 males and 9 females; age range: 10-58 years) with isolated, irreparable radial nerve palsy. We used a modified tendon transfer technique using the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) 3 (to extensor indicis proprius [EIP] and extensor pollicis longus [EPL]) and FDS 4 (to extensor digitorum communis 2-4 [EDC]) as donors for the reconstruction of selective finger and thumb extension (all patients) and pronator teres (PT) for wrist extension (25 patients). Thumb abduction was achieved by transferring the palmaris longus (PL) tendon to the abductor pollicis longus (APL) (all patients). RESULTS: Results show that near-normal wrist extension was achieved in 22 of 25 patients with extension strength of M4+. In the other 3 patients, wrist extension strength did not exceed M3 (1 patient) or M4 (2 patients). Extension of long fingers with a completely extended wrist joint was achieved in 12 of 29 patients. In the remaining 17 patients, full-range finger extension was possible only with the wrist in neutral. The advantage of the selective tendon transfer (FDS 3 to EIP and EPL and FDS 4 to EDC 2-4) resulted in selective extension of the index finger and thumb, as well as other digits, in all patients. Thumb abduction and rotation was achieved in all. CONCLUSIONS: Tendon transfers are indicated in longstanding, irreparable, isolated radial nerve lesions. Selective tendon transfer of FDS 3 to EIP and EPL and FDS 4 to EDC through the interosseous membrane results in reliable selective extension of these digits. The sacrifice of FDS 3 and 4 to reconstruct finger extension results in bowing of the donor digits. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.     

Flexor digitorum longus transfer and medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy for the treatment of stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: kinematic and functional results of fifty one feet

Purpose

Stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) can be treated by flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon transfer and medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (MDCO). Numerous authors have studied the clinical and radiographic results of this procedure. However, little is known about the kinematic changes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess plantar-pressure distribution in these patients.

Methods

Seventy-three patients with PTTD stage II underwent FDL tendon transfer and MDCO. Plantar pressure distribution and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were assessed 48 months after surgery. Pedobarographic parameters included lateral and medial force index of the gait line, peak pressure (PP), maximum force (MF), contact area (CA), contact time (CT) and force-time integral (FTI).

Results

In the lesser-toe region, PP, MF, CT, FTI and CA were reduced and MF in the forefoot region was increased. These changes were statistically significant. We found statistically significant correlations between AOFAS score and loading parameters of the medial midfoot.

Conclusions

Study results reveal that FDL tendon transfer and MDCO leads to impaired function of the lesser toes during the stance phase. However, there seems to be a compensating increased load in the forefoot region.     

Histological and radiographic evaluation of three common tendon transfer techniques in an un-ossified bone porcine model: implications for early anterior tibialis tendon transfers in children with clubfeet

PurposeTo compare the histological healing and radiographic effects of tendons transferred to ossified or unossified bone using different tendon fixation techniquesMethodsNine new-born piglets underwent bilateral tendon transfers to either the ossified boney calcaneal body or unossified apophysis. The tendons were fixed using metallic suture anchors, sutures alone or a bone tunnel. At six weeks of age, calcanei were harvested, radiologically imaged and then prepared for histology. A semi-quantitative aggregated scoring system with values ranging from 0 (poor) to 15 (excellent), was used to grade healing at the surgical enthesis and the apophyseal ossification was graded by five independent reviewers in triplicate using a modified (1 to 4) validated scoring system.ResultsHistologically, the cartilaginous transfers utilizing the tunnel and suture techniques also demonstrated the best average aggregated scores of entheses healing rivalling that measured in transfers using the classic bone tunnel technique (clinical benchmark), whereas suture anchor fixation demonstrated the worst healing in both the ossified and unossified samples. All three transfer techniques caused at least minor alterations in apophyseal ossification, with the most significant changes observed in the metallic suture anchor cohort. The tunnel and suture techniques demonstrated similar and more mild abnormalities in ossification.ConclusionTendon transfers to unossified bone heal histologically as well as transfers classically performed through tunnels in bone. Suture fixation or tunnel techniques appear radiographically and histologically superior to suture anchors in our newborn porcine model.Level of evidence      

臂丛神经根性损伤膈神经移位术对青壮年患者早期呼吸功能的影响

目的研究臂丛神经损伤膈神经移位术对青壮年患者早期呼吸功能的影响.方法对16例接受膈神经移位治疗的患者,在术前、术后（10 d）进行肺功能指标的比较,同时定期进行门诊随访,观察呼吸系统自觉症状程度.结果13例术后出现了不同程度的供氧不足症状,16例全部出现一侧膈肌抬高,术后第10天肺活量（VC）、肺活量预计值百分数（VC%）分别比术前减少37.98%和26.88%,两者差异有统计学意义（tvc=11.532、tvc%=0,P＜0.01）.其它项目如残气量（RV）较术前轻度下降,肺总量（TLC）下降值达到术前肺总量的36.49%,残气量/肺总量比值（RV/TLC%）较术前上升了4.75%,上述各指标的差值均有统计学意义.1 s用力呼气量/用力肺活量比值（FEV1/FVC）和术前比基本无改变,但其差值有统计学意义.膈神经移位右侧（10例）与左侧（6例）术前、术后肺活量比较差异有统计学意义.术后随访8个月～2年,所有患者均无明显呼吸困难和胸闷等症状.结论膈神经移位术后对青壮年患者肺容量有较大的丧失,肺通气功能减弱和小气道阻力增加,但其丧失程度在机体自身代偿耐受范围内,不会导致急剧发生的严重呼吸功能障碍.建议对右侧臂丛神经根性损伤的患者,术前进行严格的肺、心功能检查,避免发生较为严重的并发症.