The objective of this article is to discuss the significance of predicting the injury
degree of the thoracodorsal nerve by intraoperative electrophysiological examination
in the C7 nerve root transfer for brachial plexus injury. Each trunk of the brachial
plexus followed by each bundle of C7 was stimulated before the contralateral C7 was
disconnected. The ratio of the origination of thoracodorsal nerve controlling the
latissimus dorsi muscle was evaluated. The highest ratio of the origination of thoracodorsal
nerve controlling the latissimus dorsi muscle was in the middle trunk of the brachial
plexus. In the middle trunk, the highest ratio was the posterior division. In the
posterior division, the internal fascicles were the predominant ones. The intraoperative
electrophysiological examination can precisely locate the origin of the dominated
nerve of latissimus dorsi muscle. It is recommended for safety to direct the operative
procedure selection in the C7 transfer.
Intraoperative - electrophysiological - origin - thoracodorsal nerve - C7