Thigh muscle transplant may bring back elbow bending after nerve damage

NCT ID NCT07749313

First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests a surgical technique to restore elbow bending in people who have lost this ability due to a brachial plexus injury that occurred more than a year earlier. Surgeons take a muscle from the thigh and move it to the arm, connecting its nerve to either the spinal accessory nerve or intercostal nerves. The study will measure how strong the new elbow flexion becomes and how well the arm functions overall.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Free functional gracilis muscle transfer, neurotized by either the spinal accessory nerve or intercostal nerves
What this could lead to
If successful, this procedure could offer a reliable way to restore meaningful elbow bending in people with long-standing brachial plexus injuries, improving arm function and daily independence.
What could go wrong
This is a small, single-arm study, and results may not apply broadly. Risks include flap loss, elbow flexion contracture, and variable recovery; not everyone may achieve functional strength.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Aswan University Hospitals

    Aswān, Aswan Governorate, 32337, Egypt

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