Elbow flexion reanimation

Restoration of elbow flexion in the setting of brachial plexopathy iscrucial and can be accomplished in a number of ways. Current optionsinclude non-free muscle transfers, including tendon, nerve, and pedicledflap transfers, and free functional muscle transfers, most frequentlyinvolving transfer of the gracilis muscle.» Currently, free functional muscle transfer is employed when all otheroptions have been exhausted. Graft-related advantages include lack offunctional deficits at the donor site, similar size of vascular structuresof the gracilis to the thoracoacromial artery and cephalic vein, andcontractile fibers running in parallel to the muscle's course.» Evidence is limited when comparing various methods of elbowflexion reanimation, particularly when evaluating free functionalmuscle transfers and non-free muscle transfers against each other.However, current but limited evidence appears to demonstratefavorable functional outcomes with free functional muscle transfers,although prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.