2003 Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Chaput & Probe 2003 Updated 2011
The history of the surgical treatment of lesions of the brachial plexus is not long. However, the field is rapidly developing. Significant progress has been made since surgeons such as Hanno Millesi and Algimantas Narakas began using nerve grafting for supraclavicular injuries in the 1960s. Recent advances in diagnostic imaging, nerve transfer, electrophysiologic testing, nerve root repair, nerve rootlet replantation, and free muscle transfers make this a dynamic but highly specialized field. More surgical options than ever are currently available, and results are improving dramatically since the almost uniformly dismal results documented in the late 1970s.
Synonyms and related keywords: traumatic brachial plexus injury, lesions of the brachial plexus, supraclavicular injuries, upper plexus injuries, lower plexus injuries, shoulder injuries