Early improvements in function produced by neurolysis in Erb's palsy were not sustained over time. Neuroma-in-continuity resection and nerve grafting for both Erb's and total palsy produced significant improvements in Active Movement Scores and in the proportion of patients demonstrating functionally useful scores. Neurolysis as a complete surgical treatment for obstetrical brachial plexus palsy should be abandoned in favor of neuroma resection and nerve grafting.

Purpose. This study identifies a small subset of patients with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy who, while they do not meet common surgical indications, may still benefit from primary nerve surgery. Methods. Between April 2004 and April 2009, 17 patients were offered primary nerve surgery despite not meeting the standard surgical indications of the authors. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of these 17 patients using prospectively collected data. Results. This group of 17 patients were identified as having poor shoulder function at about 9 months of age despite passing the Cookie Test. Fourteen patients underwent surgical intervention and three families declined surgery. All patients in the operative group regained some active external rotation after surgery. Five patients in this group have required further interventions. Two of the three patients for whom surgery was declined have had no subsequent spontaneous improvement in active external rotation. Discussion. The commonly used indications for primary nerve surgery in obstetrical brachial plexus palsy may not adequately identify all patients who may benefit from surgical intervention. Patients who pass the Cookie Test but have poor spontaneous recovery of active shoulder movements, particularly external rotation, may still benefit from primary nerve surgery.

Epidemiologic study, Level III.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger are two of the most common conditions treated by the hand surgeon. During these procedures, a tourniquet is often used to minimize bleeding and improve visualization of the operative field. However, it may be associated with pain and discomfort. To date, there are few prospective studies investigating the safety and patient-centered outcomes of tourniquet-free minor hand procedures. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial comparing patients undergoing open carpal tunnel or trigger finger release with or without the use of a tourniquet. Perioperative subjective patient experience was investigated for both techniques. This was measured based on a numerical rating scale for pain, anxiety, and overall satisfaction. In addition, this was an equivalence trial in terms of operative time, bleeding scores, and perioperative complication rates. Results: A total of 67 patients were recruited. Both groups were similar with respect to distribution of age, sex, handedness, anti-platelet use, and tobacco use. Median scores for operative time, anxiety, and overall satisfaction were comparable between the 2 groups. With regard to patient discomfort, median scores were significantly higher in the tourniquet group when compared with the no tourniquet group (3.58 versus 1.68, respectively, P = 0.02). Bleeding scores for the tourniquet group were significantly lower than for the no tourniquet group (1.14 versus 1.90, respectively, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The application of wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) in minor hand surgery procedures has been shown to decrease tourniquet-associated discomfort, improving perioperative patient experience. Additionally, it demonstrated the noninferiority of the tourniquet-free technique with respect to operative time and the rate of perioperative complications.

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Background Electrical stimulation can accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration after injury and repair. Clinically, direct electrical stimulation (DES) may involve longer operating times, increasing risks of perioperative complications. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TCES) is a noninvasive alternative. In this study, we investigate how transcutaneous and DES compare for accelerating functional nerve recovery in a mouse sciatic nerve model. Methods Twenty-eight mice were divided into sham (n = 4), axotomy (n = 8), DES (n = 8), and TCES (n = 8) groups. After sciatic nerve transection and repair, the proximal nerve was subjected to DES or TCES at 20 Hz for 1 hour. Sciatic functional index was measured before the injury, and at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 by walking-track analysis. Electrophysiological measures were taken at week 12. Results Kinematic studies showed significant improvement from the 8th week to the 12th week for both electrical stimulation groups compared with the axotomy group (P < 0.05), with no difference between the electrical stimulation groups. At the 12th week, both DES and TCES groups had significantly faster average conduction velocity than the axotomy group. Conclusions Functional recovery was significantly better from 8 weeks onward in mice receiving either DES or TCES stimulation when compared with axotomy and repair alone. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a minimally invasive alternative treatment for accelerating functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury.

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