Early post-operative results after repair of traumatic brachial plexus palsy.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment options for traumatic brachial plexus injuries include nerve     grafting, or neurotization. The type of lesion and the reconstructive procedures     affect functional results and postoperative pain relief.


METHODS
A     total number of twenty five patients suffering from post-traumatic brachial     plexus injury were included in the study. The patients underwent exploration and     primary repair of the affected plexus, based on case by case policy.


RESULTS
Spinal accessory nerve transfer to suprascapular nerve procedure regained 78.95%     of functional muscle power, 10.50% of non functional muscle power and only 10.5     % of non innervated muscle. The Oberlin procedure regained 83.33% with elbow     flexion muscle power, 16.67% with non functional muscle power. Intercostal nerve     transfer to musculocutaneous nerve regained 62.5% with functional muscle power,     25% with non functional muscle power and only 12.5 % with non innervated muscle.     The shoulder, elbow and wrist extension functions were significantly improved     early post-operatively. In addition, the post-operative improvement of shoulder,     elbow and wrist extension functions had significant negative correlations with     the pre-operative elapsed time, and accompanied by a significant positive     correlation with post-operative follow up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Early intervention     for traumatic brachial plexus palsy is recommended to get good results with pain     relief.
Zagazig University, Department of General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Unit, Zagazig, Egypt. mohammadelhanafy@yahoo.com
Ahmad
A
Mohammad-Reda
D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D055815:Young Adult