Reinnervation of avulsed brachial plexus using the spinal accessory nerve.

The use of the accessory nerve as a donor is one of the possibilities for the reinnervation of the brachial plexus in cases of paralysis due to root avulsion. In this paper, an analysis of the reinnervation of the musculocutaneous or axillary nerve using the spinal accessory nerve is made on 13 cases, 8 of total and 5 of upper partial avulsion. In all cases, Allieu's technique was used, but in seven cases reinnervation was supplemented by upper intercostal nerves when there was total avulsion and/or by the medial pectoral nerve when there was partial avulsion. The methods are discussed and compared with the intercostobrachial anastomosis.