Research Hand Surgery

Research in the Hand Surgery department is carried out in close collaboration with Swiss Paraplegic Research. Together. Research in the Hand Surgery department is carried out in close collaboration with Swiss Paraplegic Research. Individual and scientifically-based surgical and non-surgical techniques are developed, implemented and evaluated together. This is with the aim of optimising hand and arm function for people with a spinal cord injury and related conditions. By doing this, we support people living with spinal cord injury on their path to a life that is as self-determined as possible.

Current research projects

We are examining the result of surgical spasticity correction on the upper extremities based on quantitative and qualitative data. In order to do this, in addition to looking at hand and arm positions and conducting standard assessments, we also highlight the perspectives of carers and the patients. By using semi-structured interviews, it is possible to analyse the individual experiences of this surgery in order to complement the positive results of the purely quantitative studies.

In this study, we are examining the stability of the shoulder blade in relation to the strength still present in the shoulder muscles in people with a cervical spinal cord injury. We also want to show how the movement of the shoulder blade affects arm movement. In order to do this, we carried out various strength and movement assessments with 42 participants in the movement laboratory of Swiss Paraplegic Research. The results of this are currently being assessed.

Go to Swiss Paraplegic Research

In this study, we are examining the influence of shoulder blade movement on elbow extension strength and the movement radius of the arm following a muscle tendon transfer of the posterior deltoid to the triceps. This study includes 20 participants, who are undergoing muscle tendon transfer to improve elbow extension.

Publications

  • Koch‐Borner, S., Arnet, U., Lamberg, A., Schibli, S., & Dunn, J. (2025). Manual muscle testing of upper limb muscle strength in persons with tetraplegia undergoing surgical restoration of elbow extension: A scoping review. PM&R. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.13348
  • Schibli S, Koch-Borner S, Arnet U, Fridén J. Clinical outcome of elbow extension restoration by posterior deltoid-to-triceps transfer in tetraplegia: a retrospective review of 51 patients. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934241270116 Epub ahead of print.
  • Schibli S, Friden J. [Surgical reconstruction of arm and hand functions in tetraplegia: Current concepts]. Unfallchirurgie (Heidelb). (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-023-01361-6 ​​
  • Liechti R, Schibli S, Koch-Borner S, Friden J. Implications of thumb position and trajectory in tetraplegia grip reconstruction - a cohort study. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. (2023) 9(1):26. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00581-7 ​
  • Koch-Borner S, Bersch U, Grether S, Fridén J, Schibli S, Bersch I: Different thumb positions in the tetraplegic hand. Arch Phys Med Rehabil (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.06.014
  • Schibli S, Friden J. Rebalancing the Spastic Wrist by Transposition of Antagonistic Muscle-Tendon Complex. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. (2022) 26(2):127-30. https://doi.org/10.1097/bth.0000000000000371
  • Friden J, House J, Keith M, Schibli S, van Zyl N. Improving hand function after spinal cord injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. (2022) 47(1):105-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934211027460
  • Fridén, J., Bersch, I., Fiumedinisi, F., Schibli, S. & Koch-Borner, S. Telerehabilitation. 363–375 (2022) doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-82486-6.00025-3.   ​
  • Boucke, P. C., Cordier, T., Häfeli, M. & Schibli, S. [Simplified active motion protocol following Extensor indicis to Extensor pollicis longus tendon transfer using a side-to-side suture]. Handchir., Mikrochir., Plast. Chir. 2021;53:67-71: Organ V 53, 67–71 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1326-1950​
  • Dunn, J. A., Koch-Borner, S., Johanson, M. E. & Wangdell, J. Toward Consensus in Assessing Upper Limb Muscle Strength and Pinch and Grip Strength in People With Tetraplegia Having Upper Limb Reconstructions. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabilitation (2021) doi:10.46292/sci20-00012. https://doi.org/10.46292/sci20-00012
  • Fridén, J., Son, J., Koch-Borner, S. & Lieber, R. L. Outcome from a brachialis donor for wrist extension in tetraplegia—time to reconsider the International Classification for Surgery of the Hand in Tetraplegia (ICSHT). Spinal Cord Ser Cases 7, 73 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-021-00436-z
  • Pallaver, A., Schibli, S. & Fridén, J. Surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome in individuals with spinal cord injuries—patient characteristics, diagnostic considerations, and treatment outcomes. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 7, 9 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-020-00379-x​

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