The management of the flail upper extremity in brachial plexus injuries.
Twenty-three patients with total complete brachial plexus injuries were reviewed an average of 5.5 years from the time of injury. Three different treatment approaches were used; no surgery (four), above-elbow amputation alone (14), and shoulder arthrodesis combined with above-elbow amputation (five). Return to gainful employment and prosthetic wearing habits were best achieved with early (within the first year) above-elbow amputation alone. There seemed little to recommend arthrodesis of the shoulder combined with above elbow amputation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001132:Arm / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery