The principles of functioning muscle transplantation: applications to the upper arm.

Functioning muscle can be transferred from one location to another using microneurovascular anastomoses. Reinnervation and useful muscle contraction are produced by suturing an appropriate motor nerve in the recipient area to the motor nerve of the transplanted muscle. Clinical experience and experimental investigations have led to an understanding of some of the important principles in extremity muscle transplantation. Successful deltoid and biceps reconstruction are reported.