title: [Diagnosis and treatment of injuries of the brachial plexus in our experience].
abstract: The subject of the paper is an analysis of the pathomechanism of injuries and results of multispecialist diagnostic investigations and surgical treatment in 74 cases of traumatic brachial plexus injuries observed in a period of 5 years. The observations of the authors suggest the following conclusions: Direct injury to the brachial plexus requires emergency or delayed emergency surgical intervention. In indirect and secondary traumatic injuries of the plexus the best results are obtained by possibly early reconstructive operation carried out after establishing indications to surgical treatment. The optimal time for full diagnosis of brachial plexus injury and its surgical treatment is between 3 and 6 months after trauma. The full diagnosis of brachial plexus injury should include: radiological examination of the cervical spine with radiograms in flexion and extension (if necessary) and contrast investigations (myelography) of the vertebral canal for determining canal patency and cerebrospinal fluid changes and dynamics. Electromyography is one of the principal elements of the diagnostic procedures used for the localization of plexus damage and for evaluation of the return of function after surgery. It would be indicated to organize in Poland special hospital departments or centres for systematic diagnostic investigations and surgical treatment of patients with brachial plexus injury.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
vernacular_title: Własne doświadczenia w diagnostyce i leczeniu urazów splotu ramiennego.