Which nerve injury may be treated with Eden-Lange muscle transfer?

• A. Median nerve
• B. Ulnar nerve
• C. Radial nerve
• D. Spinal accessory nerve

Answer: (D)

When a nerve injury leads to paralysis of a shoulder girdle muscle, surgeons sometimes restore function with a tendon transfer. The Eden-Lange procedure is specifically used for trapezius paralysis caused by injury to the spinal accessory nerve. In this operation, the nearby, still-innervated muscles—the levator scapulae and the rhomboids—are reattached to the scapula to mimic the line of pull of the trapezius. This re-creation of an upward-rotating, stabilizing force on the scapula helps restore shoulder elevation and proper scapular mechanics.

The reason this is the correct choice is that Eden-Lange targets trapezius dysfunction from spinal accessory nerve injury, not problems arising from median, ulnar, or radial nerve injuries. Those other nerves control different muscle groups—often in the forearm and hand—and their deficits are not addressed by this shoulder girdle tendon transfer.