The Prevalence of PTSD and Depression in Adults with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Palsy

Brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) can cause physical and psychological disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, though the psychological impact of BPI has received little attention. This study hypothesizes that PTSD and depression are significant in health-related quality of life. Prospectively, BPI patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS), Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at each clinic visit. Primary endpoints included the prevalence of PTSD and depression with DASH and VAS as secondary endpoints. Eighty-five patients met inclusion criteria (average age 46.6 years; 78.8% male). Median DASH score was 56.7; median VAS score was 5/10. PTSD prevalence was 30.6% (26/85). Depression prevalence was 45.9% (35/85). Patients with PTSD were significantly more likely to exhibit depression (p < 0.0001). Concomitant PTSD and depression were seen in 23 patients (27.1%). Traumatic BPI significantly impacts physical and psychological well-being; thus, recognizing the high prevalence of PTSD and depression is critical. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 34(1):015-019, 2025).