Reconstruction after nerve injury

♦ Late reconstructive procedures may improve function if there is persisting paralysis after nerve injury♦ Transfer of a functioning musculotendinous unit to the tendon of the paralysed muscle is the most common type of procedure♦ Passive mobility must be maintained in affected joints before tendon transfer can be performed♦ The transferred muscle should be expendable, have normal power, and have properties appropriate to the function it is required to restore♦ Tendon transfers can provide reliable improvement in function after isolated radial nerve palsy♦ A number of procedures have been described for reconstruction of thumb opposition but impaired sensation after median nerve injury may limit gain in function♦ Tendon transfers are possible to improve clawing of fingers and lateral pinch of the thumb after ulnar nerve palsy or other cases of intrinsic paralysis.