Restoration and protection of brachial plexus injury: hot topics in the last decade.
Brachial plexus injury is frequently induced by injuries, accidents or birth trauma. Upper limb function may be partially or totally lost after injury, or left permanently disabled. With the development of various medical technologies, different types of interventions are used, but their effectiveness is wide ranging. Many repair methods have phasic characteristics, i.e., repairs are done in different phases. This study explored research progress and hot topic methods for protection after brachial plexus injury, by analyzing 1,797 articles concerning the repair of brachial plexus injuries, published between 2004 and 2013 and indexed by the Science Citation Index database. Results revealed that there are many methods used to repair brachial plexus injury, and their effects are varied. Intervention methods include nerve transfer surgery, electrical stimulation, cell transplantation, neurotrophic factor therapy and drug treatment. Therapeutic methods in this field change according to the hot topic of research.
Second Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital attached to Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Kaizhi
K
Zhang
Cancer Center, the First Hospital affiliated to Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Zheng
Z
Lv
Hand & Foot Surgery and Reparative & Reconstruction Surgery Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Jun
J
Liu
Jilin University Clinic Medical College, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
He
H
Zhu
Hand & Foot Surgery and Reparative & Reconstruction Surgery Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Rui
R
Li
bibliometrics; brachial plexus injury; cell transplantation; drugs; electroacupuncture; nerve regeneration; nerve transfer; neural regeneration; neuroprotection; neurotrophic factor; repair