Adult brachial plexus injury
Simon Kay, Robert Bains
Abstract
Abstract In any condition, the surgeon must understand the natural history (i.e. the prognosis or ‘forward knowledge’) in order to decide whether to intervene surgically to try to change the expected outcome. Peripheral nerve injuries pose difficulties in prognostication, and yet a wait-and-see policy (which used to be common for brachial plexus injuries) leaves the decision to explore too long for exploration to stand much chance of ameliorating the damage since irreversible changes occur peripherally and centrally.
Topics & Concepts
Brachial plexusNatural historyPeripheral nerveMedicineBrachial plexus injuryPeripheral nerve injurySurgeryAnatomyInternal medicineNerve Injury and RehabilitationReconstructive Surgery and Microvascular TechniquesPeripheral Nerve Disorders