A clinical and electromyographic study Of major nerve transections at
the wrist in 22 patients has shown that electrical recovery nearly alw
ays occurs in the intrinsic muscles, despite the absence of clinically
detectable function. There appears to be a level of electrical reinne
rvation above which clinically detectable intrinsic muscle power is us
ually present. This level would appear to be 50% of the contralateral
maximum evoked muscle action potential; above this the ''myth'' of cli
nical recovery becomes a reality.