Brachial plexus injuries in adults

ABSTRACT

As the number of survivors of motor vehicle accidents and extreme sporting accidents increases, more people must live with brachial plexus injuries. Brachial plexus injuries also occur in multiple trauma patients and can be debilitating. Although the injured limb will never return to normal, an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of nerve injury and repair, as well as advances in microsurgical techniques, have provided the upper extremity reconstructive surgeons with opportunities to improve function in patients with these life-altering injuries. The purpose of this review is to present in detail some of the current concepts in the treatment of adult brachial plexus injuries and to give the reader an understanding of the nuances of the timing of treatment, the available treatment options, and the outcomes of treatment.