Brachial plexus root avulsions

The majority of adult brachial plexus palsies are posttraumatic injuries caused by high-energy forces, usually involving motor vehicles. In infants, brachial plexus palsies commonly represent obstetrical injuries following excessive traction on the plexus during complex or difficult delivery. Most adult injuries, and occasionally those in infants, represent brachial plexus root avulsion injuries that carry serious ramifications from the standpoint of permanent disability of a paralyzed extremity, prolonged recuperation, and significant socioeconomic impact. Modern-day management of root avulsions should focus on early, aggressive microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus, combining various neurotizations with intraplexus and extraplexus ipsilateral and contralateral nerve donors, utilization of vascularized nerve grafts, and finally the use of free vascularized and neurotized muscles. When these multistage microsurgical management techniques are applied early (with complete avulsions) they may often result in significant return of neurologic function, especially in young patients. Amputation should be looked upon as an option only when these newer microsurgery techniques have failed.