Background Since the 1980s, the C7 nerve root has gained clinical relevance as a donor
nerve in severe brachial plexus root avulsion injuries. Despite success with the cross-chest
C7 nerve transfer, inducing injury on an otherwise normal side hinders global acceptance.
By sacrificing the C7 nerve root, a predictable pattern of transient sequelae is seen,
including extensor weakness and index and middle finger anesthesia. The purpose of this
study is to observe cortical activity during direct stimulation of the C7 nerve root using blood …

Methods: Following an acclimation period of 1 week, 7 male Sprague-Dawley rats
underwent exposure and dissection of the brachial plexus at the level of the nerve roots,
followed by placement of an implantable electrode (AISI 304, Plastics1, Roanoke, VA) on the
C7 nerve root. All animals then underwent fMRI during direct nerve stimulation. The BOLD
response to nerve stimulation in the primary sensory and motor regions was studied using a
Bruker 9.4 T MRI scanner. Results: There was a BOLD response to nerve stimulation using …