title: Changes in spontaneous dorsal horn potentials after dorsal root entry zone lesioning in patients with pain after brachial plexus avulsion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated spontaneous dorsal horn potentials in patients with pain after brachial plexus avulsion and determined the effect of dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning on these potentials and on pain levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electrospinography (ESG) recordings were  undertaken in seven patients using a noninvasive electrocorticography strip electrode. Measurements were taken from the DREZ on the intact side of the spinal cord before lesioning of the injured DREZ and from the injured DREZ before and after lesioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DREZ lesioning had a significant  positive effect on pain at 12 months postoperatively. At 15.0 Hz, the mean ESG power from the injured DREZ before lesioning was significantly higher than that from the intact DREZ. In addition, the mean ESG power from the injured DREZ after successful DREZ lesioning was significantly lower  than that from the intact DREZ and that from the injured DREZ before lesioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ESG power from the injured DREZ increases in patients with pain after brachial plexus avulsion compared with that of the intact DREZ; this increase is reduced by successful DREZ lesioning.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D003714:Denervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric