title: Operative management of lesions of the axillary nerve, isolated or combined with other nerve lesions.
abstract: Sixty-six surgically treated lesions of the axillary nerve were reviewed and 57 were followed up over 1 year. Patients were divided into 4 groups: isolated axillary nerve lesions (n = 23), axillary and suprascapular nerve lesions (n = 15), axillary and infraclavicular nerve/plexus lesions (n = 26), and axillary nerve lesions and lower root avulsions (n = 2). Of 34 patients operated upon within 6 months after the trauma, 24 (71%) recovered a force of M4 or M5. Of 17 patients operated upon within 1 year, 10 (59%) had M4 or M5. Of 6 patients operated upon after 1 year, only one had M4. Good shoulder function was only regained when the spinati muscles had recovered good force.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ziekenhuis Leyenburg, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Coene
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Narakas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000294:innervation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010243:Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*