Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39962147›Full record

SynthesisSpinal cord2025

Nerve transfers to anterior interosseous nerve for restoration of finger flexion in spinal cord and brachial plexus injury: a systematic Review and individual-patient-data meta-analysis.

Pavlos Texakalidis, Stavros Matsoukas, Nikhil Murthy, Adenike A Adewuyi, Nader S Dahdaleh, Colin K Franz, Kevin Swong

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Spinal cord, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pavlos Texakalidis *Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA. Pavlos.texakalidis@northwestern.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-8715-6651
Stavros Matsoukas *Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Nikhil MurthyDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9509-8025
Adenike A AdewuyiPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Nader S DahdalehDepartment of Neurosurgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.
Colin K FranzPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4546-8638
Kevin SwongDepartment of Neurosurgery, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designSystematic review and meta-analysis.

objectivesCervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and brachial plexus injury (BPI) can result in hand paralysis. Reconstruction of hand motion is associated with improved functionality and quality of life. We synthesized the outcomes of finger and thumb flexion after various nerve transfers to the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN).

methodsA systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Successful finger and thumb flexion recovery was defined as Medical research council (MRC) grade ≥3.

resultsIn total, 23 studies with 99 patients and 120 nerve transfers to the AIN were performed. The mean interval from injury to surgery was 12.8 months and mean follow-up duration was 24 months. Overall, 81/120 (67.5%) and 68/102 (66.7%) hands achieved successful finger and thumb flexion recovery, respectively. Individual-patient-data were available for 94 nerve transfers. Type of injury (SCI vs BPI/peripheral) did not affect finger flexion outcomes (OR 1.92, 95%CI 0.74-5.0, p = 0.17). On multivariate analysis adjusted for mechanism of injury, timing of injury to surgery and duration of follow-up, utilization of the brachioradialis (BR) branch (25%, 1/4, OR 0.01, 95%CI 0.0006-0.44, p = 0.01) and brachialis (BA) branch (59%, 30/51, OR 0.06, 95%CI 0.006-0.68, p = 0.02) as donors, were associated with statistically significant lower odds of successful finger flexion recovery compared to extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) use (95%, 19/20).

conclusionsSimilar outcomes were observed with SCI and BPI/peripheral type injuries. ECRB utilization as a donor was superior to BA or BR branch in terms of successful finger flexion recovery.

Indexed as

Brachial PlexusBrachial Plexus NeuropathiesFingersNerve TransferSpinal Cord InjuriesHumansRange of Motion, ArticularRecovery of Function

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.