Comparative study of single and dual nerve transfers for repairing shoulder abduction

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of single and dual nerve transfer for the repair of shoulder abduction in patients with upper or upper and middle trunk root avulsion.

We carried out a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with C5-C6 or C5-C7 root avulsion treated by nerve transfer in our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups according to the different operation methods. In group A, ten patients had transferred the spinal accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve. Ten patients in group B underwent dual nerve transfer to reconstruct shoulder abduction, including the spinal accessory nerve transfer to the suprascapular nerve and two intercostal nerves or the long head of triceps nerve branch transfer to the anterior branch of the axillary nerve. There was no difference in age, preoperative interval, follow-up time, and injury type between the two groups. We used shoulder abduction strength, shoulder abduction angle, and Samardzic’s shoulder joint evaluation standard as the postoperative evaluation index. Shoulder abductor muscle strength equals or above M3 was considered to be an effective recovery.

Of the 20 cases, 15 obtained equals or more M3 of shoulder abduction strength, and the overall effective rate was 75%. The effective rate of shoulder abduction power in group A was 60% (6/10) while group B was 90% (9/10); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The average shoulder abduction angle was 55° (SD = 19.29) in group A and 77° (SD = 20.44) in group B; the angle was significantly better in group B than that in group A (p < 0.05). Based on Samardzic’s standard, the excellent and good rate of group A was 90% and in group B was 50%. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

For patients with nerve root avulsion of C5-C6 or C5-C7, repairing suprascapular nerve and axillary nerve at the same time is more effective than repairing suprascapular nerve alone in terms of shoulder abduction angle and excellent rate of functional recovery of the shoulder joint. Therefore, we recommend the repair of the suprascapular nerve and the axillary nerve simultaneously if conditions permit.