Platysma Motor Branch Transfer in Brachial Plexus Repair: Report of the First Case

Overview

Journal J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj

Date 2007 May 4

PMID 17474986

Citations 5

Authors

Jayme Augusto Bertelli

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: Nerve transfers are commonly employed in the treatment of brachial plexus injuries. We report the use of a new donor for transfer, the platysma motor branch.

Methods: A patient with complete avulsion of the brachial plexus and phrenic nerve paralysis had the suprascapular nerve neurotized by the accessory nerve, half of the hypoglossal nerve transferred to the musculocutaneous nerve, and the platysma motor branch connected to the medial pectoral nerve.

Results: The diameter of both the platysma motor branch and the medial pectoral nerve was around 2 mm. Eight years after surgery, the patient recovered 45 degrees of abduction. Elbow flexion and shoulder adduction were rated as M4, according to the BMC. There was no deficit after the use of the above-mentioned nerves for transfer. Volitional control was acquired for independent function of elbow flexion and shoulder adduction.

Conclusion: The use of the platysma motor branch seems promising. This nerve is expendable; its section led to no deficits, and the relearning of motor control was not complicated. Further anatomical and clinical studies would help to clarify and confirm the usefulness of the platysma motor branch as a donor for nerve transfer.

Citing Articles

Functional Outcome following Phrenic Nerve Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury.

Vyas A, Gupta A, Dhanjani B, Batajoo S, Misra S J Hand Microsurg. 2024; 16(2):100029.

PMID: 38855508 PMC: 11144632. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1764162.

The Functional Anatomy and Innervation of the Platysma is Segmental: Implications for Lower Lip Dysfunction, Recurrent Platysmal Bands, and Surgical Rejuvenation.

Minelli L, Wilson J, Bravo F, Hodgkinson D, ODaniel T, van der Lei B Aesthet Surg J. 2023; 43(10):1091-1105.

PMID: 37186556 PMC: 10702465. DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjad148.

Platysma Motor Nerve Transfer for Restoring Marginal Mandibular Nerve Function.

Rodriguez-Lorenzo A, Jensson D, Weninger W, Schmid M, Meng S, Tzou C Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017; 4(12):e1164.

PMID: 28293514 PMC: 5222659. DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001164.

Surgical anatomy of the platysma motor branch as a donor for transfer in brachial plexus repair.

Socolovsky M, Bertelli J, Masi G, Campero A, Garategui L, Conesa H Surg Radiol Anat. 2008; 30(8):669-74.

PMID: 18523714 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-008-0372-z.

The journal: one year later.

Nath R J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2007; 2:20.

PMID: 17903250 PMC: 2092428. DOI: 10.1186/1749-7221-2-20.

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