• PURPOSE
    • To compare combined ulnar nerve repair with supercharged end-to-side anterior interosseous nerve to ulnar motor nerve transfer (UR+SETS) with conventional isolated ulnar repair techniques in proximal ulnar nerve transection, with respect to intrinsic muscle power recovery and claw hand deformity correction.
  • METHODS
    • We conducted a comparative matched-paired series prospectively on 21 patients with proximal ulnar nerve transection injury. Eleven patients were managed by UR+SETS and 10 by isolated ulnar repair. The outcome was reported at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months using the score of Birch and Raji and Brand's criteria.
  • RESULTS
    • A total of 21 patients with acute proximal ulnar nerve transection injury had completed 18 months' follow-up. We observed better results in the UR+SETS group regarding the return of intrinsic function and reduction of deformity with earlier improvement in the score of Birch and Raji and Brand's criteria.
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • In the short term, UR+SETS transfer appears to result in better intrinsic muscle reinnervation and clawing deformity correction after proximal ulnar nerve transection injury.
  • TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
    • Therapeutic II.