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Objective: Treating brachial plexus injuries is a major challenge, especially lesions that are presented late, with more than 12 months of evolution. We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent one of the possibilities for attempting to restore the function of upper limbs affected under such conditions: microsurgical transfer of the gracilis muscle for elbow flexion. Methods: Eight patients were included, divided into two groups: one in which the procedure consisted of neurorrhaphy of the muscle flap with sural nerve grafting and anastomosis more distally; and the other, in which the neurorrhaphy was performed directly on the spinal accessory nerve, with anastomosis in thoracoacromial vessels. Results: We found a significant difference between the groups. A greater number of satisfactory results (75% M4) were found among patients who underwent direct neurorrhaphy, whereas the procedure using grafts for neurorrhaphy was less successful (25% M4). Conclusion: Patients who underwent microsurgical functional transfer of the gracilis muscle in which vascular anastomoses were performed in thoracoacromial vessels presented better functional outcomes than shown by those whose anastomoses were in the brachial artery with subsequent use of a nerve graft.

OBJETIVO: O tratamento das lesões do plexo braquial representa um grande desafio, principalmente as lesões tardias, com mais de 12 meses de evolução. Analisamos retrospectivamente pacientes que foram submetidos a uma das possibilidades para tentar restaurar a função do membro superior afetado nestas condições, a transferência microcirúrgica do músculo grácil para flexão do cotovelo. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos oito pacientes, divididos em dois grupos: um cujo procedimento realizado consistia em neurorrafia do retalho muscular com enxerto de nervo sural e anastomoses mais distais; o outro em que a neurorrafia era realizada diretamente no nervo espinal acessório, e anastomose nos vasos toracoacromiais. RESULTADOS: Encontramos significante diferença entre os grupos, sendo que aqueles submetidos à neurorrafia direta obtiveram resultados satisfatórios em maior número (75% M4) quando comparados com o outro grupo, que fez uso de enxerto para neurorrafia, em que foi menor o sucesso do procedimento (25% M4). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes submetidos à transferência funcional microcirúrgica do músculo grácil cujas anastomoses vasculares foram realizadas nos vasos toracoacromiais apresentaram melhor resultado funcional do que aqueles que tiveram suas anastomoses realizadas na artéria braquial e consequente utilização de enxerto de nervo. OBJECTIVE: Treating brachial plexus injuries is a major challenge, especially lesions that are presented late, with more than 12 months of evolution. We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent one of the possibilities for attempting to restore the function of upper limbs affected under such conditions: microsurgical transfer of the gracilis muscle for elbow flexion. METHODS: Eight patients were included, divided into two groups: one in which the procedure consisted of neurorrhaphy of the muscle flap with sural nerve grafting and anastomosis more distally; and the other, in which the neurorrhaphy was performed directly on the spinal accessory nerve, with anastomosis in thoracoacromial vessels. RESULTS: We found a significant difference between the groups. A greater number of satisfactory results (75% M4) were found among patients who underwent direct neurorrhaphy, whereas the procedure using grafts for neurorrhaphy was less successful (25% M4). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent microsurgical functional transfer of the gracilis muscle in which vascular anastomoses were performed in thoracoacromial vessels presented better functional outcomes than shown by those whose anastomoses were in the brachial artery with subsequent use of a nerve graft.

As fraturas distais do rádio são as mais freqüentes do membro superior. São classificadas em estáveis e instáveis. As instáveis requerem tratamento cirúrgico. Não está definido na literatura qual o melhor método de fixação, mas existe atualmente uma tendência à utilização das placas com parafusos bloqueados. Um dos aspectos técnicos importantes é o posicionamento dos parafusos distais junto ao osso subcondral, proporcionando suporte mais adequado. A avaliação da localização desses parafusos é feita com radioscopia e radiografias, mas freqüentemente existem dúvidas quanto ao correto posicionamento. Os objetivos deste estudo são: avaliar se é possível determinar com precisão por meio de radiografias, a localização dos parafusos distais no rádio e se a experiência do avaliadorinfluencia nesta análise. Foram utilizados punhos de cadáveres. Cada rádio recebeu três parafusos junto à superfície articular distal. Por meio de incidências radiográficas clássicas e anguladas, médicos especialistas e não-especialistas em cirurgia da mão avaliaram a posição de cada parafuso, se intra ou extra-articular. Os índices de acerto foram submetidos à análise estatística.As radiografias provaram ainda ser um bom método de avaliação, não havendo melhora da precisão na localização dos parafusos com as incidências anguladas. A experiência profissional do avaliador não teve influência nos resultados. The distal radius fractures are the most common fractures on upper limbs. They are classified as stable and unstable. The unstable ones require surgical treatment. However, literature does not define the best fixation method, but, today, a trend is seen towards using the locked screw plate. An important technical aspect is the distal screws positioning in the subchondral bone, with an adequate support. Fluoroscopy and radiographs are used to evaluate screws position, but there are usually doubts about the accurate positioning. The objectives of this study are to evaluate if it is possible to determine precisely the screw positioning by means of radiographs and if the previous experience of the investigator may improve the results. Cadavers' fists were used in this study. Three screws were introduced to each radius next to the distal joint surface. Specialized hand surgeons and not specialized physicians evaluated the X-ray images, at classic and angled planes, to provide the accurate positioning of each screw, intra or extra joint. The accuracy rate was submitted to statistical analysis. The X-ray images were proven to be a good evaluation method. The X-ray images captured at angled plane resulted in no improvements in the analysis of the screws positioning. Neither did the evaluator experience influence the results.