Transposition of branches of radial nerve innervating supinator to posterior interosseous nerve for functional reconstruction of finger and thumb extension in 4 patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of brachial plexus.

This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests, electrophysiological examinations, and clinical confirmation. Muscular branches of the radial nerve, which innervate the supinator in the forearm, were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function. Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis, as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip, were monitored. All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months, with an average of 27.5 months. Motor unit potentials (MUP) of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months, while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis, and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus. Furthermore, the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade III at 21 months. Lastly, the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months. In conclusion, for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus, transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.

[Combined immunosuppression of FK506 and RS-61443 in rat limb allotransplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the immunosuppressive effect of combined therapy with FK506 and RS-61443 in rat limb allotransplantation. METHODS: A total of 101 male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups and used as recipients, and 101 Wistar rats were used as donors. All SD rats were performed limb allotransplantation without using immunosuppressants in control group. In experimental groups (Groups 1-6), the recipients were immunosuppressed with various dosages of FK506, RS-61443 or FK506 + RS61443, after transplantation for 5 weeks. To evaluate the results, we observed circulation of the transplanted limb, the mean rejection time, the histologic grading of skin rejection of limb grafts and the survival time of limb grafts. RESULTS: The control group showed rejection signs (edema and erythema of the skin) after a mean time of 3.36 +/- 1.15 days, and the mean survival time of the allografts was only 7.00 +/- 0.78 days. In the groups only using FK506 or RS-61443, the survival time were prolonged to varying degrees, but rejection occurred even in the period of using drug. As dosage increased, the rejection could not be prevented and the damage to liver and kidney could be induced. In the group using FK506 in combination with RS-61443, only skin and muscle of limb allografts showed slight rejection sign, function of liver and kidney was not obviously affected, the mean survival time of limb allografts was prolonged to 58.76 +/- 6.81 days. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of FK506 and RS-61443 is a more potent immunosuppressive agent than FK506 oro RS-61443 in preventing the rejection of limb allografts, and it can obviously prolong the survival time of limb allografts.