• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.210-218
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• 2014

Brachial plexus injury is a potential complication of a brachial plexus block or vessel puncture. It results from direct needle trauma, neurotoxicity of injection agents and hematoma formation. The neurological presentation may range from minor transient pain to severe sensory disturbance or motor loss with poor recovery. The management includes conservative treatment and surgical exploration. Especially if a hematoma forms, it should be removed promptly. Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and adept skills are crucial to avoid nerve injuries. Whenever possible, the patient should not be heavily sedated and should be encouraged to immediately inform the doctor of any experience of numbness/paresthesia during the nerve block or vessel puncture.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2014

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that provides movement and feeling to the shoulder, arm and hand. The majority of acute brachial plexus injuries occur when the plexus is stretched violently or torn. This happens as result of the shoulder being pressed down forcefully while the head is pushed up and away from that shoulder. Such injuries frequently result from automobile or motor-cycle accidents or from falls and usually affect one side. Nerve injuries vary in severity from a mild stretching of the nerve to a tearing of the nerve root away from the spinal cord. We experienced a 50-year-old woman with weakness in both upper extremities after an attempted hanging. A consecutive workup revealed bilateral brachial plexus injuries. Six months after the incident, she had fully recovered. This is a very rare case of bilateral brachial plexus injuries after an attempted hanging.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.594-598
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• 2019

Overall complication rates of 9.1% have been reported following implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement. Brachial plexus injury is infrequently reported in the literature. We describe a 26-year-old female experiencing left arm nerve pain, a positive Tinel's sign, numbness in the median nerve distribution of the hand and biceps muscle weakness following revision ICD via subclavian vein approach. Nerve conduction studies identified severe partial left brachial plexopathy, which remained incompletely resolved with conservative management. Surgical exploration revealed lateral cord impingement by the ICD generator and a loop of the ICD lead, along with fibrosis, necessitating surgical neurolysis and ICD generator repositioning. As increasing numbers of patients undergo cardiac device implantation, it is incumbent on practitioners to be aware of potential increases in the prevalence of this complication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.401-405
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• 2013

Complex regional pain syndrome secondary to brachial plexus injury is often severe, debilitating and difficult to manage. Percuteneous radiofrequency sympathectomy is a relatively new technique, which has shown promising results in various chronic pain disorders. We present four consecutive patients with complex regional pain syndrome secondary to brachial plexus injury for more than 6 months duration, who had undergone percutaneous T2 and T3 radiofrequency sympathectomy after a diagnostic block. All four patients experienced minimal pain relief with conservative treatment and stellate ganglion blockade. An acceptable 6 month pain relief was achieved in all 4 patients where pain score remained less than 50% than that of initial score and all oral analgesics were able to be tapered down. There were no complications attributed to this procedure were reported. From this case series, percutaneous T2 and T3 radiofrequency sympathectomy might play a significant role in multi-modal approach of CRPS management.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2011

Purpose: As clinical manifestations of thoracic outlet syndrome are vague pain or symptoms in upper extremity, the diagnosis of the disease is delayed or misdiagnosed as cervical HNP, shoulder pathologies, or peripheral neuropathies. In that reason, many patients spend time for unnecessary or ineffective treatments. We report the results of our thoracic outlet syndrome cases, which were treated by conservative care or surgical treatment. Materials & Methods: Twenty five cases, diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome since 1999, were reviewed retrospectively. Physical examinations including Adson's and reverse Adson's test, hyperabduction test, costoclavicular maneuver, and Roo's test, plain radiography of shoulder and cervical spine, MRI of neck or brachial plexus, and EMG were checked. If subjective symptoms were not improved after conservative treatments over three months, surgical treatment were performed. Nine patients were performed operative treatment and the others had conservative treatment in outpatient clinic. Postoperative improvement of symptoms and the follow up period, and the results of conservative care were reviewed. Results: Among five physical examinations, mean 1.75 tests were positive, and EMG has little diagnostic value. MRI were performed in twenty cases and compression of brachial plexus were found in 6 cases (30%). Ten patients out of 16 conservative treatment group had excellent improvement of symptoms, and 5 had good results. Eight patients out of 9 operative treatment group had excellent improvement with mean 5.1 months of follow-up period. Conclusion: Diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome is difficult due to bizarre and vague symptoms. However if the diagnosis is suspected by careful physical examinations, radiologic studies, or nerve conduction studies, conservative care should be done as initial treatment and at least after three months, reassess the patient's condition. If the results of conservative treatment is not satisfactory and still the thoracic outlet syndrome is suspected, surgical treatment should be considered. Conservative treatment and operative technique are the valuable for the treatment of this disease.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.240-243
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• 2022

Isolated deltoid paralysis is a rare pathology that can occur after axillary nerve injury due to shoulder trauma or infection. This condition leads to loss of deltoid function that can cause glenohumeral instability and inferior subluxation, resulting in rotator cuff muscle fatigue and pain. To establish dynamic glenohumeral stability, a novel technique was invented. Humeral suspension is achieved using a double button implant with non-resorbable high strength cords between the acromion and humeral head. This novel technique was used in two patients with isolated deltoid paralysis due to axillary nerve injury. The results indicate that the humeral suspension technique is a method that supports centralizing the humeral head and simultaneously dynamically stabilizes the glenohumeral joint. This approach yielded high patient satisfaction and reduced pain. Glenohumeral alignment was improved and remained intact 5 years postoperative. The humeral suspension technique is a promising surgical method for subluxated glenohumeral joint instability due to isolated deltoid paralysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

배경: 최근 종격동 내 양성 신경종에 대한 흉강경 수술은 비교적 보편적으로 시행되고 있다. 그러나 흉강 첨부에 위치하는 신경종에 대해서는 시야확보 및 접근의 어려움으로 인해 수술 도중 근처 신경 및 혈관 구조물의 손상으로 인한 합병증의 위험이 높다. 이에 저자들은 이 질환에서 흉강경 수술의 경험을 분석하고, 그 외 접근방법에 의한 수술을 비교하여 흉강경 수술의 적정성을 평가하고자 한다.대상 및 방법: 1996년 1월부터 2008년 9월까지 31예(남자 15명, 여자 16명)의 환자가 흉강 첨부에 위치하는 양성 신경종으로 절제수술을 시행 받았다. 3예의 환자가 von Recklinhausen씨 병 환자였다. 환자들의 나이는 8세부터 73세로 평균 45세였다. 종양 절제수술은 흉강경 수술이 14예, 측방 개흉술이 10예, 경부 및 경흉부 절개술이 6예 그리고 정중흉골절개술이 1예였다. 흉강경 수술(VATS군)과 그 외 침습적인 방법에 의한 수술(OP군) 결과를 의무기록을 통해 후향적으로 비교 분석하였다. 결과: VATS군에서 조직학적으로 신경초종(schwannoma) 9예, 신경섬유종(neurofibroma) 4예, 신경절신경종(ganglioneuroma)이 1예였다. 수술시간은 VATS군이 평균 113분으로 OP군의 153분 보다 적게 소요되었고, 흉관 거치기간 및 수술 후 입원기간도 VATS군이 각각 2일, 5일로 타군의 5일, 11일에 비해 짧았다(p<0.05). 흉강경 수술의 경우 개흉술로의 전환은 없었다. 술 후 합병증은 VATS군 경우 호너씨 증후군 2예 및 상완 신경총과 관련된 신경증상이 2예에서 발생하였고, OP군은 상기 증상이 각각 1예씩, 성대마비 증상이 1예, 그리고 비신경계 합병증이 2예에서 발생하였다. 흉강 첨부에 위치하는 양성 신경종의 흉강경을 이용한 절제수술 후 신경계 합병증 발생의 가장 의미 있는 위험인자는 비적출적 방법(non-enucleating method)에 의한 종양 절제인 경우였다(p=0.029). 결론: 흉강경을 이용한 흉강 첨부의 양성 신경종의 제거술은 타 방법에 비해 비침습적인 유용한 방법이다. 그리고 흉강경을 이용한 종양 적출술(enucleation)은 신경계 합병증 발생을 줄일 수 있는 방법이라고 생각된다.