Donor activation focused rehabilitation approach to hand closing nerve transfer surgery in individuals with cervical level spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT:

Study design

Case Series.

Objectives

To describe the donor activation focused rehabilitation approach (DAFRA) in the setting of the hand closing nerve transfers in cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) so that therapists may apply it to treatment of individuals undergoing this procedure.

Setting

United States of America-Academic Level 1 Trauma Center.

Methods

We reviewed the records of individuals with cervical SCI who underwent nerve transfer to restore hand closing and post-surgery DAFRA therapy at our institution. The three post-surgery phases of DAFRA included (1) early phase (0-12 months) education, limb preparation, and donor activation exercises, (2) middle phase (12-24 months) volitional recipient muscle activation and (3) late phase (18 + months) strengthe

SUBMITTER: Kahn LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9055048 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature