Fig. 1

Reconstructive nerve procedures. a The double Oberlin’s nerve transfer is commonly deployed to restore elbow flexion. The surgeon identifies suitable donor fascicles of the ulnar and median nerve that supply wrist flexor muscles. The fascicles are divided and redirected to grow into the denervated musculocutaneous nerve to biceps and brachialis. b Nerve autograft is deployed in larger nerve gaps. The sural nerve is often harvested as the donor nerve and grafted to restore continuity across the damaged nerve trunk. c Free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) is deployed in chronic nerve injuries. This involves identifying a suitable donor muscle and its neurovascular bundle (such as the gracilis) and grafting it to the injured site of nerve damage (often to the upper limb to restore elbow flexion)