title: Microsurgical reconstruction of obstetric brachial plexus palsy.
abstract: The incidence of obstetric brachial plexus palsy is not declining. Heavy birth weight of the infant and breech delivery are considered two important risk factors and Caesarean section delivery seems to be a protective factor. There are two clinical appearances, that is, paralysis of the upper roots and that of total roots, and Klumpke's palsy involving the C8 and T1 roots is rarely seen. Computed tomography myelography (CTM) is still the best way of visualizing nerve roots. Surgical intervention is needed for 20-25% of all patients and clinical information is decisive for the indication of surgery. Most often, a conducting neuroma of the upper trunk is encountered, and it is believed that neuroma resection followed by microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus gives the best results.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery Department, Hua Shan Hospital, Shanghai, China. lchenhkq@online.sh.cn
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D010246:Paralysis, Obstetric / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed