Role of nerve conduction study and electromyography in adult traumatic brachial plexopathy

ABSTRACT

Traumatic brachial plexopathy mostly affects young adults and has a very high rate of morbidity. The aim of this clinical survey was to highlight this problem and the diagnostic and prognostic value of electrodiagnostic procedures. Fifty adult patients with the clinically brachial plexus injury who were referred to Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine [AFIRM] Rawalpindi for nerve conduction study [NCS] and electromyography [EMG] were included in this survey. They were followed up for two years. The recovery was assessed as per Medical Research Council [MRC] scale and electrophysiologically. Traumatic plexopathy mainly affects young adult males with mean age of 24+7.26 years. The recovery was better with C5 and 6 lesions and those having neurapraxia and it was worse with avulsion injury. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography proved to be the key investigation in assessing brachial plexus injury, in regard to their localization, severity and extent. The best investigation for assessment of brachial plexus injury is Electrodiagnostic procedures