Results and current approach for Brachial Plexus reconstruction

• Main Authors: Ghizoni Marcos F, Bertelli Jayme A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2011-06-01
• Series: Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury
• Online Access: http://www.jbppni.com/content/6/1/2

<p>Abstract</p> <p>We review our experience treating 335 adult patients with supraclavicular brachial plexus injuries over a 7-year period at the University of Southern Santa Catarina, in Brazil. Patients were categorized into 8 groups, according to functional deficits and roots injured: C5-C6, C5-C7, C5-C8 (T1 Hand), C5-T1 (T2 Hand), C8-T1, C7-T1, C6-T1, and total palsy. To restore function, nerve grafts, nerve transfers, and tendon and muscle transfers were employed. Patients with either upper- or lower-type partial injuries experienced considerable functional return. In total palsies, if a root was available for grafting, 90% of patients had elbow flexion restored, whereas this rate dropped to 50% if no roots were grafted and only nerve transfers performed. Pain resolution should be the first priority, and root exploration and grafting helped to decrease or eliminate pain complaints within a short time of surgery.</p>