Lesions found when operating traction injuries of the brachial plexus

Traumatic traction injuries occurring mostly during road traffic accidents frequently cause severe lesions of the brachial plexus. 108 patients with such lesions were surgically explored in the last 5 years by one surgeon. By contrast, 101 patients with other lesions to the brachial plexus or various injuries to neighbouring nerves were operated on during the same period. Among the former, root avulsions were found in 73 patients, 33 presenting with 4 or all roots avulsed. In 14 of these patients the subclavian artery was ruptured. Out of 17 patients with infraclavicular distal plexus lesions 7 presented with a rupture of the axillary artery. The severity of the lesions to nerves and vessels in the shoulder girdle region seems to have increased over the past 10 years. The different injury patterns seen at operation are presented.