United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

To all

This is from T.R.Ramesh (Age-32). I had met with road accident on Jan-2006, due that I had an injury of TRAUMATIC BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY - GLOBAL AVULSION (RIGHT). (C5, C6, C8 and T1)Due to that, I were undergone the prime surgery in India on Feb -2006. They have done "Exploration and nerve transfer Right Brachial Plexus Spinal accessory to Suprascapular, Intercostal to Musculocutanes and Contra lateral C7 to Median nerve via Vascularised Ulnar nerve Graft".

After sixteen months.... of my prime surgery,,,, now my doctors is suggested an mouscle transfer is needed for you from CT to deltoid and biceps.

1.. My question it must be required(transfer)??? or any alternative way in addition my doctor plan is corrrect???

2..How long it will take for recover the hand at least 50%. ?????????(Approximately)

3..After prime surgery, if any procedure or tips for improving the nerve growth. In addition, how we can find the nerves growing are not? If any procedure available for monitoring periodically.??

4..Please suggest your plan for further and second surgery how much duration required from prime surgery.

5..For speed recovering the brachial plexus any latest treatment.

Please share your experience this will help me to lot

ramesh...........

G'Day Ramesh,

You need to get an EMG done to possibly assist in determining nerve growth.

Also I found if you tap along where they grafted the nerve you will be able tell where it's up to

Cheers

Jamie

Ramesh, My daughter also had all 5 nerves avulsed and had nerve transfers along with a gracilis muscle transfer. She wasn't able to have the C7 contra lateral because of an anomoly on her good side, so she won't have shoulder movement. At best, the doctors told her she would have "rudementary" hand movement - no where near 50%. Her muscle transfer looks and functions very well. She has good bulk and strength. Good luck to you. Sue

Srykerd, At what age the avulseion happened for your daughter and what duration they done the muscle transfer after the prime surgery. Thanks for your suggestion. In addition, i got some confident because of your reply.

After surgery and muscle transfer, she can able to do the writing, driving and swiming.???? If any difficulty and restriction is persisting.
thanks a lot and take care.........Ramesh


Message was edited by: trr_amesh

Hello Jamie, Thanks for your suggestion.........Ramesh

Ramesh,
Melanie's accident happened when she was 20 years old. They did the nerve transfers and muscle transfer 6 months after her accident. It's been 1 year and 2 months since her surgery at Mayo. She was right handed but now she has learned to write with her left. She has little "all together" finger movement in her right. Eventually she will have to have some tendon lengthening in her fingers so she can grasp objects but I doubt if she will ever write with her right hand again. She is able to flex and extend at her elbow. In October she is going to have her wrist and thumb fused to help with function and then she won't have to wear a wrist brace anymore. Now her wrist is limp when out of the brace. She was an All American Swimmer and Water Polo player before the accident and she is able to swim now extremely well with one arm. She still beats everyone in the pool! She is also driving and doing pretty much everything she wants to do. Her attitude is "I'm not going to let this disability get in my way of doing what I want to do in life!" She doesn't want this accident to rule her life. Sue

srhykerd,

Thanks for your reply and Hope i will also get back soon with managable hand. Convey my regards and cheers to Melanie's. After your reply i got confident to do my most of the all activities.............. Ramesh

Good for you, Ramesh. I'm glad I could help you out. I hope you have a speedy recovery. Sue

srhykerd-woulda loved 2 have gotton my elbow back--gen. consensus at time was grafting/transfers etc. woulda been more of the same (meaning alotta pain and expense to basically be left-handed w/o any "real" function in r. arm. I mean, so i'd get %15 or %20 use back--still can't pick your nose or scratch your--well, anything.As it is i haven't even been able to support a prosthesis in 8 years. My main problem was chronic pain anyway--and i have gotten some very extensive surgeries to try to at least stabilize my shoulder assembly. i saying that my attitude was that the pain and aggravation outwieghed the benefit.got DREZ last year. no joy. i'm done.gimme my methadone.

ronin, My daughter was very fortunate in the pain aspect. She gets by with 1 neurontin a day now. In her case, being a 20 year old girl, her appearance has a lot to do with her physical and mental well-being. Having the surgeries that she did made her look more "normal." In her case, the surgeries were well worth the pain and aggravation.