Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has completed three targeted muscle reinnervation surgeries in the past year for pediatric patients with traumatic upper extremity amputations.
The surgeries were performed by orthopedic surgeon Erin Meisel, MD, at the hospital’s Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center. The procedure reroutes nerves from the amputated limb to remaining muscle, reducing the risk of neuroma and phantom limb pain, while preserving the option for patients to later use a myoelectric prosthesis, according to a Jan. 27 news release.
Dr. Meisel is part of CHLA’s Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopedic Program, which sees nearly 300 patients per month.
