Seventh Cervical Nerve (C7) Transection for Spastic Arm Paralysis After Cerebral Injury

BACKGROUND: Spastic limb paralysis because of cerebral injury can cause long-term disability. Its treatment varies from conservative to operative; however, the optimum treatment is yet to be found. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that patients with spastic arm paralysis who receive C7 nerve transection to their paralyzed side might have reduction in spasticity, pain, and improvement in arm function. METHODS: Four patients with spastic hemiparesis that had ceased to improve after 1 year of rehabilitation, having pain and poor function, were included. All 4 patients underwent C7 nerve transection plus rehabilitation. The outcome was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months by the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity scale for motor recovery, by the Modified Ashworth Scale score for spasticity, and by the visual analogue score for pain. Functional use of the limb was also assessed by performance of activities such as dressing, tying shoe laces, wringing a towel, and operating a mobile phone. RESULTS: At the end of 6 months, there was a significant improvement in mean Fugl Meyer score, reduction in Modified Ashworth score, and Visual Analogue scale for pain. At the beginning of the study, none of the patients could perform any day-to-day activities; however, at the end of 6 months, 3/4 of the patients could perform at least 1 activity. CONCLUSION: C7 neurectomy leads to improved motor function, reduction of spasticity and pain, and improvement in function in patients with spastic arm paralysis because of cerebral injury.