Table 2.

Comparison between Proximal Nerve Transfer and Distal Nerve Transfer

	Proximal Nerve Transfer	Distal Nerve Transfer
Philosophy	Traditional	New strategy
Donor nerve	Proximal and supraclavicular nerve	Close to the target (out of supraclavicular and infraclavicular fossa)
Advantages	For diagnosis and treatment.	A treatment procedure.
	Proximal nerve, move powerful.	No scars, easy dissection.
	Nerve cut, less functional deficits.	Shorter operation time.
		Nerve cut stumps: healthy, no scar.
		Usually direct coaptation.
		Short rehabilitation, faster recovery.
Disadvantages	Difficult dissection.	Nerve cut, risk to cause deficits.
	Cut stumps, unpredictable.	Risk for iatrogenic injury.
	May need long nerve grafts.	Nerve cut, risk to cause deficits.
	Long operation time.	Risk for iatrogenic injury.
	Long rehabilitation period.	May need multiple incisions.
Indication	All kinds of avulsion or rupture	Not global injury (single C5, or C5–6 two-root avulsion, or C5–7 three-root avulsion).
Indication	All kinds of avulsion or rupture	Median or ulnar intrinsic palsy.