United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Well, I'm home but Jeff isn't. The surgery went okay but not quite as planned. All the nerves were avulsed. And the Dr. couldn't get to the nerve he usually uses for this procedure (because of the artery damage from the accident) so he didn't do the transfer from the legs. He used the nerves in the chest wall and connected them to the nerves in his arm. At least I think that's how it went. But anyway, as most of you probably already know, that was just to get the elbow to bend and the wrist to work. Now he's talking about a scalpula fusion? Can anyone explain this one to me? And does it work? I can't stay on here too long just in case the hospital is trying to reach me for something. So, I'll talk to you guys later. Jeff will be home Friday if all goes well, so I'll be back then. Debi

Hi Deb;

It sounds to me Jeff had an intercostal nerve
graft,which is what I had 8 yrs ago. Didn't have the sural (from the leg) nerve transplant either for a different reason.

A scapula fusion is a procedure which stabilises the shoulder. I have never had this done myself, as I have always been able to shrug my shoulder, and it is reasonably stable, but I know people who post here have had this, or are about to.

Glad everything went well otherwise; you may find that when he comes out of hospital, he will have the arm in a sling that will prevent it from moving too much. This is to prevent the nerves that have been grafted from being pulled out before they have grown enough to be stable. Your doctors or physios should tell you more about this. Passive movements, if Jeff was doing them before, should almost certainly be stopped for the length of time advised by the surgeon/physio. If you need any more info, please don't hesitate to email me.

Best wishes...Liz x