Flexor digitorum superficialis nerve transfer to restore pronation: Two case reports and anatomic study

Loss of pronatior affects most activities of daily living. We report 2 case s of traumatic loss of pronator teres function and successful reconstructio n by transfer of a redundant motor branch to the flexor digitorum superfici alis to the pronator teres branch(es). Follow-up period was 2 years and pro nation strength was restored to +4/5 and 5/5 in the 2 patients. The anatomy of the median nerve in the proximal forearm was examined by dissecting 31 cadaver specimens. A branching scheme was formulated. The histomorphometric properties of the individual muscular branches were studied in 15 fresh sp ecimens to evaluate their suitability and size match for nerve transfer. Co pyright (C) 2001 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.