Neural sheath tumors of the brachial plexus: a multidisciplinary team-based approach

Peripheral tumors of the brachial plexus, although rare, provide an opportunity for the plastic surgeon to coordinate a multidisciplinary team and achieve excellent outcomes. Most of the case series are reported from the neurosurgical literature. We report on the experience of the Kaiser Permanente Brachial Plexus Clinic over a recent 2-year period. A retrospective review was conducted to examine the medical records, radiographic images, operative reports, and pathologic findings of 13 consecutive patients with peripheral nerve sheath tumors of brachial plexus origin. Of the 10 patients requiring surgical exploration, 90% had significant improvement or resolution of pain, with sensory and motor recovery showing mixed results. Average follow-up consisted of 2 years with occupational therapy beginning shortly after operative intervention. Our results are similar to or better than those published in the literature. The plastic surgeon with subspecialty training can safely and successfully treat tumors of the brachial plexus by implementing a multidisciplinary approach.