Table 3.

Effects of different nerve sources on muscle strength and ROM

Parameter	Phrenic nerve (n = 94)	Accessory nerve (n = 11)	Intercostal nerves (n = 4)	p value
Elbow flexion MRC, median (IQR)	3 (3-4)	4 (3-4)	4 (2-4)	0.57
Elbow flexion ROM in degrees, mean ± SD	87 ± 46	106 ± 49	103 ± 50	0.55
Shoulder abduction MRC, median (IQR)	3 (2-4)	3 (2-4)	4 (3-4)	0.46
Shoulder abduction ROM in degrees, mean ± SD	63 ± 44	61 ± 42	88 ± 47	0.61
Wrist extension MRC, median (IQR)a	2 (0-3)	3 (2-3)	2 (2-2)	0.24
Wrist extension ROM in degrees, mean ± SDa	19 ± 18	31 ± 26	30 ± 10	0.25

In patients with free functional gracilis muscle transfer with distal attachment to the extensor carpi radialis brevis, no association was found between the use of a nerve source and postoperative muscle strength grades and ROM of elbow flexion, shoulder abduction, and wrist extension (p > 0.05).

^aSample size for wrist extension: all n = 76, phrenic nerve n = 69, accessory nerve n = 4, intercostal nerves n = 3; MRC = Medical Research Council.