[An experimental study of the treatment of root avulsion of brachial plexus using contralateral C7 nerve neurotization (nerve transfer)].

This study compared the functional results of contralateral C7 root neurotization with homolateral phrenic nerve transfer for repairing root avulsion of brachial plexus in rats. It was found that in the C7 nerve root group all the parameters of evoked muscle potential amplitude (EMPA), regenerating axon count, biceps weight and muscle fibre area, and muscular maximal tetanus tension were statistically superior (P < 0.05-0.01) to those in the phrenic nerve group; while there were no significant differences between these two groups in motor nerve latency regenerating axon area and persisting time of muscular maximal tetanus tension (P > 0.05). The reasons why C7 root neurotization is superior to phrenic nerve transfer were also discussed.