ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare combined ulnar nerve repair with supercharged end-to-side anterior interosseous nerve to ulnar motor nerve transfer (UR+SETS) with conventional isolated ulnar repair techniques in proximal ulnar nerve transection, with respect to intrinsic muscle power recovery and claw hand deformity correction. METHODS: We conducted a comparative matched-paired series prospectively on 21 patients with proximal ulnar nerve transection injury. Eleven patients were managed by UR+SETS and 10 by isolated ulnar repair. The outcome was reported at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months using the score of Birch and Raji and Brand's criteria. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with acute proximal ulnar nerve transection injury had completed 18 months' follow-up. We observed better results in the UR+SETS group regarding the return of intrinsic function and reduction of deformity with earlier improvement in the score of Birch and Raji and Brand's criteria. CONCLUSIONS: In the short term, UR+SETS transfer appears to result in better intrinsic muscle reinnervation and clawing deformity correction after proximal ulnar nerve transection injury. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.
