The sophisticated control of the human hand is not guaranteed for life.
Numerous diseases and accidents may affect hand performance. One of the most dramatic
losses of hand control is the high spinal cord injuries at the neck level
causing complete paralysis of all four extremities. It can happen in traffic, when you are skiing or
snowboarding or even at home or in your garden.
But this is not the end of the story. Life is not over and mobility
can be restored using modern surgical techniques to transfer nerves and
muscles to reanimate lost functions and get hand control back. Some
examples of this fascinating surgery, the brain plasticity to relearn
and regain hand functions are demonstrated in this talk. Most importantly, the
individuals’ perception and course of motor relearning to achieve the
new functions are illustrated. Increased mobility and freedom by
integration of the new functions into daily activities is the ultimate
treatment success.
