Electrophysiological changes after severance of the C7 nerve root

J Hand Surg Br. 1994 Feb;19(1):69-71. doi: 10.1016/0266-7681(94)90053-1.

Abstract

Since 1986, contralateral C7 root transfer has been used to treat brachial plexus root avulsions in our hospital. We performed post-operative electrophysiological examinations of the healthy-side limb in the first 27 patients. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies on the healthy side demonstrated mild abnormalities only of individual limb muscles in a few cases. These changes mostly recovered during the follow-up period. In the measurement of radial nerve motor conduction, median nerve sensory conduction and somato-sensory evoked potentials, we found that the amplitude of the median nerve sensory conduction alone was slightly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The results showed that severance of C7 caused no permanent functional damage to the upper limb.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arm / innervation*
  • Brachial Plexus / injuries*
  • Brachial Plexus / surgery
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology
  • Nerve Transfer*
  • Neural Conduction*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Radial Nerve / physiopathology
  • Spinal Nerve Roots / surgery*
  • Wounds and Injuries / surgery