PapersFlow Research Brief
Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation
Research Guide
What is Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation?
Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation is the surgical management, nerve transfers, muscle strength assessment, and outcomes evaluation of brachial plexus injuries, particularly those related to obstetric and neonatal palsy, with emphasis on shoulder function restoration, peripheral nerve surgery, and quality of life impacts.
This field encompasses 39,215 papers on brachial plexus injuries, nerve transfers, and rehabilitation techniques. Constant and Murley (1987) introduced a clinical method for functional assessment of the shoulder applicable to various diagnostic abnormalities caused by nerve injury or disease. Hudak et al. (1996) developed the DASH outcome measure for evaluating upper extremity disabilities including shoulder and arm function in nerve-related conditions.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Brachial Plexus Nerve Transfers
This sub-topic evaluates surgical techniques like spinal accessory to suprascapular, Oberlin transfers, and intercostal for elbow/shoulder reanimation in traumatic and obstetric palsy. Long-term functional outcomes are assessed.
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy Management
Focuses on neonatal diagnosis, microsurgical intervention timing, and conservative therapy outcomes in Erb's/Duchenne palsies. Includes natural history studies and quality-of-life metrics.
Muscle Strength Assessment in Nerve Injuries
Develops and validates quantitative methods like dynamometry, EMG, and MRC grading for deltoid, biceps, and rotator cuff in brachial plexus recovery. Correlates strength with shoulder function scores.
Shoulder Function Restoration after Plexus Injury
Investigates L'Epicurean reconstruction, tendon transfers, and arthrodesis for external rotation and abduction deficits. Uses Constant-Murley and DASH scores for evaluation.
Quality of Life in Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Studies long-term SF-36, EQ-5D, and custom PROMs in brachial plexus patients, addressing pain, psychological impact, and return-to-work rates post-reconstruction.
Why It Matters
Nerve injury and rehabilitation directly improves patient outcomes in brachial plexus injuries from obstetric palsy and trauma through targeted surgical interventions and functional assessments. Constant and Murley (1987) provide a method that records shoulder parameters irrespective of specific diagnostic details, enabling consistent evaluation in over 5,189 citing works for shoulder function restoration post-nerve damage. Hudak et al. (1996) established the DASH questionnaire, cited 4,906 times, which clinicians use daily to measure symptoms and physical function in upper extremity nerve injuries, facilitating better tracking of rehabilitation progress and quality of life in peripheral nerve surgery patients.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"A Clinical Method of Functional Assessment of the Shoulder" by Constant and Murley (1987), as it provides a foundational, applicable tool for evaluating shoulder function in nerve injury cases regardless of specific pathology.
Key Papers Explained
Constant and Murley (1987) establish shoulder assessment basics, which Hudak et al. (1996) extend to upper extremity outcomes via the DASH for broader nerve injury evaluation. Richards et al. (1994) standardize shoulder function measurement, building on these for consistent clinical use. Galatz et al. (2004) link repair integrity to functional recovery, connecting assessment tools to surgical outcomes in related shoulder pathologies.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Field maintains emphasis on brachial plexus surgical management and outcome measures, with 39,215 papers but no recent preprints or news signaling ongoing refinement of nerve transfers and assessments in obstetric palsy.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Clinical Method of Functional Assessment of the Shoulder | 1987 | Clinical Orthopaedics ... | 5.2K | ✕ |
| 2 | Development of an upper extremity outcome measure: The DASH (d... | 1996 | American Journal of In... | 4.9K | ✕ |
| 3 | Traumatic spinal cord injury | 2017 | Nature Reviews Disease... | 2.2K | ✕ |
| 4 | The Outcome and Repair Integrity of Completely Arthroscopicall... | 2004 | Journal of Bone and Jo... | 2.1K | ✕ |
| 5 | Anterior Acromioplasty for the Chronic Impingement Syndrome in... | 1972 | Journal of Bone and Jo... | 2.1K | ✕ |
| 6 | Fatty Muscle Degeneration in Cuff Ruptures | 1994 | Clinical Orthopaedics ... | 2.0K | ✕ |
| 7 | Targeting Recovery: Priorities of the Spinal Cord-Injured Popu... | 2004 | Journal of Neurotrauma | 2.0K | ✕ |
| 8 | A self-administered questionnaire for the assessment of severi... | 1993 | Journal of Bone and Jo... | 1.9K | ✕ |
| 9 | Spinal-cord injury | 2002 | The Lancet | 1.8K | ✕ |
| 10 | A standardized method for the assessment of shoulder function | 1994 | Journal of Shoulder an... | 1.7K | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Constant-Murley score used for in nerve injury rehabilitation?
The Constant-Murley score is a clinical method for functional assessment of the shoulder, applicable irrespective of diagnostic or radiologic abnormalities from disease or injury. Constant and Murley (1987) described it to record individual parameters of shoulder function. It supports evaluation in brachial plexus injury rehabilitation.
How does the DASH measure outcomes in upper extremity nerve injuries?
The DASH is a self-administered outcome measure for patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal conditions, focusing on symptoms and physical function. Hudak et al. (1996) developed it for brief clinical use in daily practice. It assesses disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand relevant to nerve injury rehabilitation.
What role does nerve transfer play in brachial plexus reconstruction?
Nerve transfers are a key technique in the surgical management of brachial plexus injuries, including obstetric and neonatal palsy. The field covers their application for shoulder function restoration and peripheral nerve surgery. Outcomes include improved muscle strength and quality of life.
Why assess muscle strength in obstetric palsy rehabilitation?
Muscle strength assessment evaluates recovery in brachial plexus injuries from obstetric palsy. Papers in this cluster address its role alongside nerve transfers and reconstruction. It informs surgical decisions and tracks rehabilitation progress.
What is the current state of research on nerve injury outcomes?
Research totals 39,215 works on nerve injury and rehabilitation, focusing on brachial plexus management. Top papers provide standardized shoulder function tools like Constant-Murley and DASH. No recent preprints or news indicate stable focus on surgical and assessment methods.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can nerve transfer techniques optimize long-term shoulder function in neonatal brachial plexus palsy?
- ? What factors predict muscle strength recovery after peripheral nerve reconstruction in obstetric injuries?
- ? Which assessment methods best correlate with quality of life improvements post-brachial plexus surgery?
- ? How do variations in injury timing affect rehabilitation outcomes in neonatal palsy?
Recent Trends
The field includes 39,215 works with no specified 5-year growth rate, reflecting sustained research on brachial plexus injuries and rehabilitation.
Top-cited papers like Constant and Murley (1987, 5189 citations) and Hudak et al. (1996, 4906 citations) dominate, indicating reliance on established assessment tools.
Absence of recent preprints underscores focus on validated surgical and evaluative methods.
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