Functional outcome of ulnar nerve fascicle transfer for restoration of elbow flexion in upper brachial plexus injury

Upper part brachial plexus injuries result in paralysis of Biceps and inability of active elbow flexion. If repair of damaged nerves proves to be impossible, reconstruction surgery will be indicated. Oberlin procedure is a reconstructive method for restoration of elbow flexion in which, posteromedial fascicle of ulnar nerve is transferred to the motor nerve of Biceps. In this article, we evaluated the results of this procedure in 10 patients in whom treatment was performed relatively late. Ten patients with inability of active elbow flexion due to upper part brachial plexus injury were operated by Oberlin procedure, on average 7 months after the injury. In 9 patients among 10 patients, active elbow flexion by contracture of biceps muscle was restored and in 8 of them the result was considered to be satisfactory. No complication was observed. Oberlin procedure is a safe and effective method for restoration of active elbow flexion, in upper part brachial plexus injuries. We did not find a statistically significant correlation between the interval between trauma and surgery, time of first of contraction in biceps and grade of muscle power in biceps at 12 months.