Brachial Plexus Injury – Surgery Concern

Transcript

The primary concern with reconstructive procedures after a severe brachial plexus injury is simply that they won’t work. The more extensive an injury is, the more difficult it is to reconstruct. Patients who have all five roots of their brachial plexus completely injured often require not just nerve repair and grafting, but also muscle transplants, tendon transfers, and other secondary procedures to achieve an arm with just basic functions. Patient who has a more limited injury and can be recovered with just nerve transfers has a much higher likelihood of regaining full function after surgery. With nerve transfers, there is also the possibility that we weaken the muscle from which the nerve is transferred. Any time that a nerve is moved away from the hand into the biceps, there is a chance for some numbness, tingling, or even mild weakness of the hand. Although this is rarely a significant problem.