Nerve transfer: eligibility and planning

A functioning donor nerve is connected to a nerve serving a paralyzed muscle.

The goal is improved arm and hand movement and everyday function.

Eligibility depends on muscle function, nerve health, injury characteristics, and timing. Sensory injury level alone does not establish eligibility.

Assessment, surgery, and prolonged rehabilitation form the treatment pathway. Physical examination and electrical nerve testing help assess suitability.

Tendon transfers redirect working muscle force; both procedures may be combined.

Recovery is slow, outcomes vary, and some transfers do not restore function. Even small improvements may matter for independence.

Early studies suggest movement gains, though evidence has important limitations. Limited controlled research makes benefits harder to establish definitively.

Personal accounts describe differing recovery experiences and functional gains.