Clinical analysis of 24 cases of multi-segment injury of brachial plexus / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the diagnosis and treatment of the multi-segment injury of brachial plexus and provide reference for diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice.Methods:From October, 2012 to January, 2015, 24 patients (21 males and 3 females, aged 7-46, average at 25.06±13.01 years) who suffered multi segments injury of brachial plexus were treated by surgical operations. Time from injury to surgery was 7 days to 7 months, with (2.43±2.15) months in average. The general data, injuries and surgical procedures of the patients were recorded. Muscle strength grading was used to evaluate and analyse the curative effect.Results:Twenty-four cases were followed-up for 3.1-7.2 years, with 4.3 years in average. Of the patients, 58.3% of the injuries were caused by mechanical traction. Combined injuries were counted for 83.3%, of which 62.5% combined with ipsilateral limb fractures, 20.8% (5/24) involved in the root of brachial plexus, 79.2% (19/24) with upper part of the clavicle, 91.6% (22/24) with lower part of the clavicle, 16.7% (4/24) with branches of the brachial plexus and 91.7% (22/24) with injuries of 2 segments, 8.3% (2/24) with injuries of 3 segments. At the last followed-up, 55.0% of the patients achieved better than M 3 in total muscle strength. The excellent and good rate was 70.8% in neurolysis group and 42.9% in multiple segment injury group. Conclusion:The mechanism of multi segments injury of brachial plexus is special, and the actual injury is difficult to be located. For patients with multi segments injury, surgical operation should be carried out as early as possible, and the correct surgical procedure can only be determined after the exploration of all sections of the brachial plexus.