[Myelography in obstetrical paralysis of the brachial plexus]

The use of myelography in obstetric palsies of brachial plexus is aimed at diagnosing root avulsion. This kind of lesion appears as the disappearance of the slightly transparent nerve roots which might be combined either with pseudomeningocele or with deformation of radicular pouch. In our study we considered 69 operated patients who had previously undergone myelography. In 74.2% of cases myelographic findings were confirmed at surgery. False positives and false negatives were 9.7% and 3.2%, respectively. Incorrect diagnoses were made in 12.9% of cases, because of misread lesions and incorrect evaluation of their location, usually at the cervico-dorsal junction. No side-effects were observed. Myelography appears thus to be extremely useful for both the preoperative evaluation and the choice of surgery in newborn children with obstetric palsy of the brachial plexus.