Intercostal Nerve Transplant--Anyone have this done?

[Jason&Amy]

Hello everyone! Jason and I met with Dr. Nath on Friday and gave us a little hope. He said he could do an intercostal nerve transplant(if I spelled it right). He said he could take nerves from the rib and put it in his arm in hopes that it will grow and he may regain his bicep. He also said we could fuse the shoulder so he could get more movement. He has a window of 4-6 weeks to have this done, otherwise it will be too late. Jason and I would like to know if anyone had this done or knows anything about it. If so, did it work and what are the pros and cons of it?

We strongly believe that God blessed us to find this board. We found it on 3/4 and met Dr. Nath on 3/8. Had we found it one week later, it may have been to late. I really believe that this was meant to be. I know it may get repetative, but thank you all!

[Mindy]

I do not know anything about these surgeries but I an glad you found this site. My prayers are with you both. God bless.

[karlos]

Hello to you both

I had the intercostal transfers done 5 yrs ago at st James in the uk,Im afraid iv also had just about everything posable done in the quest to regain my arm.
The intercostal transfer for me was a complete sucsess as far as i was conserned i regained vgood bicept and fair tricept,The surgery lasted approx 7hrs and the incision goes from the the mid point of your rib cage ,under your arm pit and right down to you elbow so its a fair old scar im afraid.
After the op it was around 6 mth before any flickers were noticeable and around 14mth before the elbow flexed.
I was lucky and saw v good results from this op , but it is only fair to say there are people i have known who this procedure hasnt benefitted,but for me you have to have it done.

If you need anymore info ask away.

good luck karl

[admin]

Hi Jason&Amy,
I had the very same surgery only my Dr.(Susan MacKinnon in St Louis) used the distal portion of the spinal accessory nerve (shoulder) along with three motor intercostal nerves. They then were basically rerouted to eventually give me elbow flexion. The odds of it working were not great as I had a complete avulsion. I started to see a little movement around 9-10 months and then it wasn't until 18 months that my elbow really started to flex. It works great now! I can lift about 3 lbs. It doesn't sound like a lot but when you start with nothing it seems like a miracle looking back. I hope your surgery will be as successful as mine!

[Nancy (Eric's Mom)]

Hi Jason&Amy,

My name is Nancy. I'm mother to Eric, almost 22 years old, who suffered a complete TBPI to his left arm July 2000. We had surgery in New Orleans in October 2000. Eric had the intercostal nerve surgery. I don't have the exact specifics with me today (in work) but I can tell you that I think the surgery was successful. Eric started with the slightest movement of arm away from body probably about 6 months or so after surgery and by the time we went to follow-up 1 year after surgery is able to move his arm at least midway to head and flex elbow. He can do this against gravity and quite strongly. I don't know about fusing the shoulder. Eric didn't have that done. He did have some shoulder sublux but that's disappeared because his upper muscle has strengthened enough. I think also that Dr. Nath is a great surgeon and you should trust him. He seems to be very willing to do what he can to help people in this situation. Sorry it took me a few days to respond. If you'd like more information, let me know!

And, welcome to the best place for information from those who know!

[bigsel]

If you go to the other page that says roll call, you will see a gentleman there called Robin Hynes who has had this kind of surgery. hope this helps.
bigsel

[admin]

My intercostal transfer was done by Dr Carlstedt, UK but he put a sensor instead of a motoric on my shoulder. So instead of moving the shoulder I feel my ribs when I rub my shoulder! (-:


Geert.

[Paolo]

Hi J&A

I had a motorcycle accident in feb 00, all the roots avulsed; in July 00, here in Italy, I had the intercostal tranfer done, in Dec 01 I began move my biceps but it is still too weak to flex the elbow.

Good luck,
Paolo

[Georgina]

>Hi Jason! I want to let you know that I regained the use of my right bicep via a nerve transplant 6 months after my accident. I had avulsed C7 C8 and half of T1 when the branch of a falling tree hit my head and rt. shoulder. Prof.Tonkin and team carried out the graft using the sural nerve as donor. The phrenic nerve was joined to the musculocutaneous nerve (bicep) and the accessory to the axillery (arm pit). Your Dr Nath is proposing an intercostal neurotization of the musculocutaneous nerve for restoration of elbow function. If you would like to read Prof. Tonkin's paper "The surgical treatment of brachial plexus injuries" I will post you a copy, if you want to email me.
Good luck in your research and best wishes for a good outcome.
Georgina.

[admin]

Please send information (copy of the article you mentioned on intercostal nerve transplant. thank you