A Decade of Imaging Patients with Traumatic Brachial Plexopathy: What have We Learned?

Abstract

Aim In this paper, the authors share their experience of imaging patients with traumatic brachial plexopathy by magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) spanning over a period of nearly 10 years. Setting and Design This was a single-institution, prospective, observational study conducted between August 2012 and March 2022. Materials and Methods Children and adults presenting to the plastic surgery outpatient department with features of traumatic brachial plexopathy were included in the study. The MRN study was performed in a 1.5T scanner (Magnetom Essenza, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). The area scanned extended from C3 level to T3 level. Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics (percentages, mean, median, and mode). Results A total of 134 patients ( n = 134) were included in the study. The age of our patients ranged from 6 months to 65 years. The mean age was 24.95 ± 12.10 years, with a median of 23 years. All patients had unilateral injury, and the right side was more commonly involved. Road traffic accident was the most common mode of injury, and blunt crush-avulsion was the most common mechanism of injury. Involvement of shoulder, elbow, and hand together (panplexopathy) was the most common clinical presentation. Conclusion This study of patients with traumatic brachial plexopathy imaged by MRN, spanning nearly a decade, has led to several interesting observations. The majority of these injuries occur in young men from urban areas who usually present with panplexopathy. The most common mode of injury is road traffic accident, and blunt crush-avulsion is the most common mechanism of injury.