Early and late reconstruction in brachial plexus palsy: a preliminary report

To evaluate the most effective surgical procedures in the early and late reconstruction of brachial plexus after its traumatic injury.

A total of 14 consecutive patients with brachial plexus injuries were examined and operated on at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns at Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital. Less than half of them (43%) came for surgery in the early stage of disease--within 12 months after injury--and 57% in the late stage--1-15 years after trauma. Altogether, 23 operations--neurolysis, nerve transfer, tendon transfer, and arthrodesis--were performed. Patients were followed up for an average of 12.5 months (range 4 to 19 months) after surgery. Postoperative motor assessment of hand function was based on the motor classification M0-M6 of Mallet and British Medical Research Council Muscle grading system. Results were considered positive if the range of active movements increased no less than 5-10 degrees odependently from the level of injury and motor strength--no less than 1-2 grades (M0-->M2 or M2-->M3).

Of the eight investigated, six patients from early group showed positive results. The most effective surgical procedures were neurolysis and nerve transfer. A significant improvement in the patients of late group was observed after tendon transfer procedure. Nevertheless, the recovery process of motor function was too slow or even minimal in 31% of patients to satisfy the patient and the surgeon.

Neurolysis or nerve transfer in the early stage or tendon transfer in the late stage after brachial plexus injury may result in a significant improvement of motor function of the hand. Sharing the information concerning brachial plexus reconstruction with neonatologists, neuropathologists, traumatologists, and hand therapists would be helpful in operating such patients timely and treating them adequately after surgery.