Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
Your hands have many important features, such as blood vessels, bones, soft tissues, and muscles. But without your nerves, you would experience difficulties or possibly even lose the ability to perform common, everyday activities, like lifting, gripping, or grasping objects.
Damage to the hand’s nerves can result in potentially serious disability. But in some cases, such an event can be treated through a medical procedure known as functional nerve transfers.
Anatomy
The hand has three primary nerves; the ulnar, radial, and median. These nerves carry messages to and from the body’s central nervous system, which instruct the hand’s muscles and bony structures like the fingers to move in different directions. Nerves also let you feel important sensations, including pain, warmth, and coldness. Badly damaged or diseased nerves lose the ability to carry these messages, which can result in serious mobility issues, possibly even paralysis of the affected area.

Description
Fortunately, if you have suffered significant nerve damage resulting in potentially life-altering issues, you may be a candidate for functional nerve transfers. During this process, portions of one nerve are transferred to replace the injured or sickly section. The goal of this procedure is to restore as much of the nerve’s function as possible. Doing so can allow you to regain feeling, in addition to the ability to move and conduct basic activities.
Conditions That May Increase the Need for Nerve Transfer
Serious damage to the nerves can occur acutely – the result of some type of quick and unexpected event or chronically – over an extended period.
Acute nerve damage is often the result of some type of significant injury, such as an automobile accident, fall, or internal wound that pierces sensitive nerves. Chronic nerve injury can be caused by conditions like aging, years of overusing the hands or holding them in unusual positions, various nerve diseases, and nerve-hurting medical illnesses, including diabetes and immune system disorders.

Symptoms of Severe Nerve Injury
Symptoms can vary depending upon the specific nerves involved, how bad the damage is, and the underlying problem causing the injury. But serious hand-related nerve damage can result in symptoms, including:
- Weakness.
- Twitching or uncontrolled movements.
- Pain around the affected nerve.
- Numbness and tingling that spreads to other locations, such as the wrist or down the arm.
- The inability to grip, grasp, or lift objects.
In the most severe cases, you may partially or completely lose the ability to move stricken hands.

Diagnosing Nerve Damage
If your physician believes nerve damage might be the cause of your symptoms, they will ask about your health and professional history. If you have been diagnosed with illnesses like diabetes or an immune system problem, or have been employed in a profession where you perform a significant degree of computer work or heavy manual labor, your chances for developing chronic nerve damage increases.
Additional examination might include tests designed to measure your range, motion, and muscle tone. Other diagnostic tools they might use include:
- Blood tests to rule out diseases, like diabetes.
- Bodily imaging scans like computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. CT and MRI scans enable your doctor to examine your hand’s inner workings.
- Electromyography. These tests measure the electrical activity occurring inside muscles.
Sometimes, your doctor may order a nerve biopsy. During this procedure, a small part of a nerve is removed from your body and examined for damage or abnormalities.
Procedural Overview
If severe nerve damage is found, your physician will look out for several factors, which will help determine if you are a good candidate for nerve transfer. Considerations can include:
- Your age.
- Your general health.
- How bad your symptoms are.
- The specific underlying problem and its severity.
- How severe the damage is.
- If other treatments might prove effective.
Usually, nerve transfer is conducted on subjects with either severe nerve injury or significant disability.
The Surgical Process
Hand-related nerve transfers involve your surgeon removing one part of your ulnar nerve and replacing the damaged part of that same nerve. This can restore movement or sensation.
The procedure begins with the surgeon making incisions over the sites of both the damaged and donor nerves. Then, the donor nerve is removed and inserted over the damaged nerve. Once this process is complete, the surgeon will stitch the nerves together.
Recovery
Typically, nerve transfers are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you will not need a hospital stay. Following the procedure, you will likely need to undergo a course of physical therapy geared towards helping you regain movement.
Next Steps
If you experience symptoms of severe nerve injury, such as weakness or paralysis, you may be a candidate for functional nerve transfers. We encourage you to consult with our team of hand specialists, who can perform a thorough examination and determine the most appropriate course of action. Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about functional nerve transfers of the hand.
Areas of Focus
- Hand & Wrist
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Nerve Pain
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Trigger Finger
- Ulnar Neuritis
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis
Services
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