• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1114-1130
• /
• 2023

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is increasingly used to visualize peripheral nerves in vivo. However, the implementation and interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi are challenging because of the anatomical complexity and technical limitations. The purpose of this article was to review the clinical context of MRN, describe advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for plexus imaging, and list the general categories of utility of MRN with pertinent imaging examples. The selection and optimization of MR sequences are centered on the homogeneous suppression of fat and blood vessels while enhancing the visibility of the plexus and its branches. Standard 2D fast spin-echo sequences are essential to assess morphology and signal intensity of nerves. Moreover, nerve-selective 3D isotropic images allow improved visualization of nerves and multiplanar reconstruction along their course. Diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor images offer microscopic and functional insights into peripheral nerves. The interpretation of MRN in the brachial and lumbosacral plexi should be based on a thorough understanding of their anatomy and pathophysiology. Anatomical landmarks assist in identifying brachial and lumbosacral plexus components of interest. Thus, understanding the varying patterns of nerve abnormalities facilitates the interpretation of aberrant findings.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.18-22
• /
• 2016

Background: The interscalene brachial plexus block is widely used for pain control and anesthetic purposes during shoulder arthroscopic surgeries and surgeries of the upper extremities. However, it is known that interscalene brachial plexus block is not appropriate for upper limb surgeries because it does not affect the lower trunk (C8-T1, ulnar nerve) of the brachial plexus. Methods: A low approach, ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block (LISB) was performed on twenty-eight patients undergoing surgery of the upper extremities. The patients were assessed five minutes and fifteen minutes after the block for the degree of block in each nerve and muscle as well as for any complications. Results: At five minutes and fifteen minutes after the performance of the block, the degree of the block in the ulnar nerve was found to be $2.8{\pm}2.6$ and $1.1{\pm}1.8$, respectively, based on a ten-point scale. Motor block occurred in the median nerve after fifteen minutes in 26 of the 28 patients (92.8%), and in all of the other three nerves in all 28 patients. None of the patients received additional analgesics, and none experienced complications. Conclusions: The present study confirmed the achievement of an appropriate sensory and motor block in the upper extremities, including the ulnar nerve, fifteen minutes after LISB, with no complications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.158-163
• /
• 2011

Background: Although a brachial plexus block can be used to provide anesthesia and analgesia for upper extremity surgery, its effects using $MgSO_4$ on postoperative pain management have not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate brachial plexus block using $MgSO_4$ on postoperative analgesia. Methods: Thirty-eight patients who were scheduled to undergo upper extremity surgery were randomly allocated into two groups: patients receiving axillary brachial plexus block with 0.2% ropivacaine 20 ml and normal saline 2 ml (group S) or 0.2% ropivacaine 20 ml and $MgSO_4$ 200 mg (group M). Before extubation, the blocks were done and patient controlled analgesia was started, and then, the patients were transported to a postanesthetic care unit. The postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), opioid consumption, and side effects were recorded. Results: The two groups were similar regarding the demographic variables and the duration of the surgery. No differences in VAS scores were observed between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in opioid consumption between the two groups. Nausea was observed in three patients for each group. Conclusions: Axillary brachial plexus block using $MgSO_4$ did not reduce the level of postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 1998

The incidence of brachial plexus injury is increasing because of the development of motor vehicle but the the results of treatment was reported poor due to its complex anatomical structure and changes of function and sensory during the recovery after trauma. But the results of treatment has been improved by the recently introduced high sensitive diagnostic method that can evaluate accurately the site and extent of the injury and treatment method. Restoration of the elbow flexion is the most important goal of treatment after brachial plexus injury and nerve graft, neurotization and muscle transfer were used for methods of treatment. From December 1992 to May 1994, the author performed 6 cases of latissimus dorsi transfer at the same side for the improvement of elbow flexion in the patients of brachial plexus injury. There were 5 cases of male, one case of female and average age was 22 years old. The causes of injury were traffic accident in 3 cases, gun shot injury, falldown and birth injury in each one case and in all cases, the type of injury were upper arm type. The average follow up period were 1 year 5 months ranging from 12 months to 4 years 5 months. In all cases, active elbow flexion was impossible before operation and average muscle power was grade I. We analysed the active range of motion, muscle power and the functional results. At the last follow up, range of active elbow flexion was average $124^{\circ}$ and flexion contracture was average 11 degrees and the average of muscle power was grade IV. In the functional analysis, there were two cases of excellent, three cases of good and 1 case of fair. There was no complications including wound infection, vascular compromise and donor site problem. The results of latissimus dorsi transfer for improvement elbow flexion in the patients of brachial plexus injury is one of the useful mettled for the restoration of elbow flexion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to know optimized fat suppression techniques for brachial plexus compared with STIR and SPAIR T1, T2 techniques. A total of 30 normal volunteers without brachial plexus disease were studied on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. As an analytical method, SNR, CNR, 4-point grading scale were evaluated by using three pulse sequences. As a quantitative analysis, the SNR, CNR for SPAIR T1 technique provided high value in branchial plexus roots (03.07, -2.25), branchial plexus trunks(06.70, 36.31)(p<0.05). As a qualitative Analysis, The visibility for delineation of brachial plexus, fat suppression, artifact was significantly better on SPAIR T1(3.2, 3.6, 3.4) technique(p<0.05).

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.43-47
• /
• 2008

Background: Acute brachial plexitis is an acute idiopathic inflammatory disease affecting brachial plexus, which is characterized by initial severe pain in shoulder followed by profound weakness of affected arm. This is a retrospective study to evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological profile of acute brachial plexitis. Methods: Sixteen patients with acute brachial plexitis were sampled. The electrodiagnostic studies included motor and sensory nerve conduction studies (NCSs) of the median and ulnar, sensory NCSs of medial and lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves, and needle electromyography (EMG) of selected muscles of upper extremities and cervical paraspinal muscles. The studies were performed on both sides irrespective of the clinical involvement. Results: In most of our patient, upper trunk was predominantly affected (14 patients, 87.50%). Only two patients showed either predominant lower trunk affection or diffuse affection of brachial plexus. All had an acute pain followed by the development of muscle weakness of shoulder girdle after a variable interval ($7{\pm}8.95$ days). Ten patients (62.50%) had severe disability. In NCSs, the most frequent abnormality was abnormal lateral antebrachial cutaneous sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs). On needle EMG, all the patients showed abnormal EMG findings in affected muscles. Conclusions: In this study, pain was the presenting feature in all patients, and the territory innervated by upper trunk of the brachial plexus was most frequently involved. The most common NCS abnormality was abnormal SNAP in lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Our findings support that the electrodiagnostic test is useful in localizing the trunk involvement in acute brachial plexitis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.594-598
• /
• 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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2010

Schwannoma of the brachial plexus region is very rare. There has not been general agreement in terms of surgical outcome from limited number of studies. We analyzed surgical outcomes from 11 cases of schwannomas which occurred in the brachial plexus. From February 2000 to August 2009, 11 patients with schwannomas of the brachial plexus region were surgically treated by a single surgeon. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and MRI of our cases, and evaluated the neurologic deficit and the recurrence of tumors after surgery. All the cases were proven histologically as schwannomas. The mean age of the patients was 52.6(36~67) years old, 4 of them were male and 7 were female. The tumor was located in the left side in 9 patients, and right in 2. The mean postoperative follow-up was 24.7(6~78) months. Initial presentation was usually painless, palpable mass. The mass was located in various level of the brachial plexus such as root, trunk, cord, or terminal branch level. The size of mass was from $1.5{\times}1.5{\times}0.5$ cm to $11.0{\times}10.0{\times}6.0$ cm. Eight of 11 patients showed no neurologic deficit. Three patients showed postoperative neurologic deficit; two of them had transient sensory deficit, and one of them had weakness of flexor pollicis longus and 2nd flexor digitorum profundus. There were no recurrences. The schwannoma of the brachial plexus region should be considered as a curable lesion with an acceptable surgical risk of injury to neurovascular structures. With precise surgical techniques, these tumors can be removed to improve patient's symptoms with minimal morbidity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with brachial plexus injury. Methods : The patient with symptoms of pain and dysesthesia on right forearm and hand was treated with acupuncture treatment, herbal medicine, moxibustion and physical treatment. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated by Hepatic dullness sound, NRS, VAS, SF-36 bodily pain, grip strength. Results : After 42 days of treatment, NRS score significantly decreased. VAS score, SF-36 bodily pain and grip strength showed moderate improvement. Conclusions : This results suggest that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in reducing the symptoms of brachial plexus injury.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the neurologic abnormalities in the donor limb after contralateral C7 transfer in brachial plexus injury. Materials and Methods : From August 1996 to December 1999, five patients with brachial plexus injury were treated with contralateral C7 nerve root transfer. The average follow up was 16 months(range, 5 to 36 months). The clinical findings were assessed using the British Medical Research Council Grading System, and also measured grip power, pinch power of hand and two point discrimination of the fingers. Results : We had no difference in shoulder abduction and elbow flexion after contralateral C7 transfer. The grip and pinch strength were recovered within 4weeks. Sensory loss occurred in all patients and was noted to be more severe on index and middle finger. Four patients recovered within 2 weeks, one continued till one year. Subjective numbness and pain on percussion minimally persisted until last follow-up. Conclusion : The division of the C7 nerve root resulted in minimal and temporary functional deficit in the donor upper limb.