United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Does anyone know how they attach the nerves to the muscles when they do a nerve transfer? I recently had a branch of my ulnar nerve transfered to my biceps, and my spinal accessory nerve transfered to my supraspinatus. My question is do they piggy back on top of the existing nerve, or do they splice into the existing nerve? I have been told that the muscle has a motor point where the nerve inters the muscle. I'm curious how the new nerve gets into that motor point without splicing into the old nerve. Also if you have had this type of surgery, how long before you had any muscle contractions in the newly innervated muscles? Any suggestions on what supplements to take to promote nerve growth? When Dr. Tiel closed up the incission, he used superglue instead of stiches of staples. Just thought I'd through that out there.
Cheers....Karl....

Karl~
My doctors @ Mayo used my white blood cells and made a glue out of it and gave me back my red blood cells during surgery. Cool, huh? But that nerve transfer didn't take, not because the glue didn't work but because of other reasons. Not cool.
Kathleen H

I had a nerve transfer for my axillary nerve in August. I think I'm starting to see something now in the deltoid but its so small I'm not sure yet. I was told time is largely based on distance to the muscle - 1 inch per month approx. My subscapular nerve was pulled out at the point where the nerve inters the muscle so they couldn't do a transfer because he said they had to know the exact point the nerve inters - spent 2 hours looking for it. So I'm not sure if they cut out the stretched or damaged nerve and graft the transplanted nerve onto the 2 ends or if they piggybackut they need both ends intact. He did tell me that its not the old or grafted nerve that ends up working again but that the graft provides a "roadway" for new nerves to grow along - without the roadway going into the right spot in the muscle the messages won't be received by the muscle. I hope this makes sense and helps.

Lorrie

Hi Lorrie,
I did a search on nerve transfers and read all I could bear to. They never said how the new nerve is attached. In some cases they used two nerves to innervate the biceps. And they said after two years the motor plate of the muscle deteriorates to the point that its to late to do a transfer. This makes me think that they attach the new nerve to the motor plate, but I'm just guessing. You would think as often as we have these surgeries done, we would know the answer. What nerves were damaged feeding your bp? And which muscles aren't working? I'm taking off for Solvang till Sunday. Too many mountain lions around here. Can't ride my mountain bike yet anyway. Have you been riding your recumbent? I rode some at a bike shop in the city of Orange. Check out their web site at peoplemovers.com. Got to go pack. Cheers....Karl....