Simultaneous Phrenic and Intercostal Nerves Transfer for Elbow Flexion and Extension in Total Brachial Plexus Root Avulsion Injury.

BACKGROUND: To report the results of restoring the elbow flexion and extension in patients with total brachial root avulsion injuries by simultaneous transfer of the phrenic nerve to the nerve to the biceps and three intercostal nerves to the nerve of the long head of the triceps. METHODS: Ten patients with total brachial root avulsion injuries underwent the spinal accessory nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve for shoulder reconstruction. Simultaneous transfer of the phrenic nerve to the nerve to the biceps via the sural nerve graft and three intercostal nerves to the nerve of the long head of the triceps was done for restoration of the elbow flexion and extension. Trunk flexion exercise program was used for all patients postoperatively. The mean follow up period was 36 months. RESULTS: For elbow flexion, there were two M4, seven M3, and one M1. For elbow extension, there were three M4, four M3, two M2, and one M1. No patient demonstrated a respiratory problem clinically postoperatively. The average FVC% decreased to 61% of the predicted value at 24 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous nerve transfer using the phrenic nerve to the nerve to the biceps and 3 intercostal nerves to the nerve of the long head of the triceps with postoperative trunk flexion exercise provide a comparable result for restoration of elbow function in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury. The patients who appear to have a respiratory problem and are unable to comply with the post-operative respiratory muscles training should be contraindicated for this simultaneous transfer.

Treatment preferences for decompression illness amongst Singapore dive physicians.

INTRODUCTION: Owing to the scarcity of randomized controlled trials to guide treatment for decompression illness (DCI), there are many unanswered questions about its management. Apart from reviews and expert opinion, surveys that report practice patterns provide information about useful management strategies. Hence, this study aimed to identify current treatment preferences for DCI amongst diving physicians in Singapore. METHODS: An anonymous web-based questionnaire was sent to known diving physicians in Singapore. The demographics of the respondents were captured. Respondents were asked about their preferred management for five different DCI scenarios. RESULTS: The response rate was 74% (17 of 23 responses). All respondents chose to recompress patients described in the five scenarios. Regarding the number of recompression sessions, "one additional session after no further improvement in signs and symptoms" was the most common end point of treatment across all the scenarios (47 of 85 responses). Analgesics would be used by five physicians, three would use lidocaine and two steroids as adjuvant therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from the general agreement that recompression is indicated for DCI, there was no strong consensus regarding other aspects of management. This survey reinforces the need for robust RCTs to validate the existing recommendations for DCI treatment.