An experimental study of contralateral C7 root transfer with vascularized nerve grafting to treat brachial plexus root avulsion.

Experimental rat models of simulated brachial plexus injuries were devised to compare the effect of contralateral C7 root transfer with phrenic neurotization. The effect of vascularized nerve grafting (VNG) was also compared with the use of conventional nerve grafts (CNG) in the treatment of root avulsion of the brachial plexus. 160 rats were randomly divided into four groups of 40 each; contralateral C7 root transfer with a vascularized ulnar nerve graft (C7-VNG), contralateral C7 root transfer with conventional ulnar nerve grafting (C7-CNG), ipsilateral phrenic nerve transfer with a vascularized ulnar nerve graft (P-VNG) and ipsilateral phrenic nerve transfer with conventional ulnar nerve grafting (P-CNG). Electrophysiological and histological examinations and functional evaluation were performed at different post-operative intervals. C7 root transfer was found to be superior to phrenic nerve transfer and VNG superior to CNG. Severance of the C7 nerve root was not found to affect limb function on the healthy side.