Brachial plexus surgery: our concept of the last twelve years

In patients with brachial plexus injuries restoration of complete function is seldom seen. The diagnosis is a clinical one; investigations such as MRI or myelography are not sufficiently reliable to base surgical indications on them. Surgery has to be performed within the first six months after the trauma. The surgical procedure firstly includes an exact intraoperative definition of the extent of the lesion. Depending on the type of the lesion, microsurgical neurolysis, nerve grafting, or reneurotization is performed. When regeneration is complete, secondary operations may follow if necessary as part of our integrated concept. The spectrum of secondary operations in our patients includes arthrodesis, tenodesis, tendon transfers, muscle transfers, and free neurovascular tissue transfer. In selected cases with extensive lesions a bifunctional latissimus dorsi transfer allows restoration of minimal grip with simultaneous elbow flexion. Our concept includes a series of hierarchical steps: 1. Diagnosis and indication 2. Nerve repair 3. Intensive physiotherapy, control in intervals 4. Secondary operations--if necessary 5. Intensive physiotherapy 6. Ergotherapy, orthosis In the last 12 years 362 patients with brachial plexus lesions have been operated on in our clinic. In these patients we performed 104 neurolyses, 126 nerve grafting procedures, 87 reneurotizations, and 191 secondary operations in 96 patients. Only the combination of nerve repair with both conventional and newer methods of tendon and muscle transfers can restore the maximum function for the individual situation.