United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have been told no hope, some hope and maybe. Its been 3 years since my accident. I have an avulsion of c8-t1 and stretch injury to c6-7 possibly 5 also. I have been working with a personal trainer since Dec 2004 to maintain ROM, I have shoulder shrug, strong pec muscle, triceps and very very little bicep. I would like to know if anyone has had a pectoralis muscle flap and tendon to restore elbow flex and some use of the arm. Especially if you live the southeast U.S.

Hey Anthony,

I take it you have no use of your hand, due to C8 & T1 avulsions. Sorry to hear that. At the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where I travelled to from Los Angeles for all my surgeries, they do muscle transfers for hand flexion (more like a four finger grip is what I understand) and for biceps flexion. It's a bit of an ordeal making the travel there, but it's your arm and your life, so maybe it's worth it. There are quiet a few people that check into this board regularly that have had surgery there and can tell you their experience. Also Dr. Belzberg at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland might be easier for you. Check out the 'Medical Resource Directory' under the 'Resource' link up above.

FYI- I avulsed C5, C6, & C7 with stretch to C8 & T1. Click on my name in blue to read the surgery types I've had.

~Chris

ps how are your pain levels? and if you have pain, where is it mostly focused?

We just return from Mayo today. Dustin has c4-7 stretch injury. Little bicept, good tricept, weak deltoids. They want him to fatigue the bicept 3x's daily to build it faster. And water therapy 7x per week. Also, super strengthen the tri as they feel if the bicept doesn't get strong enough they will use the tri to get elbow flexion. Other possibility they said is a gracilis transfer, but that the tri would be less complicated surgery. Using the tri he would lose the ability to straighten arm unless in gravity. Like he couldn't push open a door with it. But, if you can't raise the arm you can't push the door anyway. He will have some decisions to make. But for now we will work on the exercises they said to use to strengthen bi and tri.
Sue