Citation

Bowles AO, Graves DE, Chiou-Tan FY. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2004; 85(10): 1708-1710.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77004, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15468035

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in the extent and distribution of brachial plexopathy involvement caused by gunshot wounds (GSW), motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), and other etiologies, based on electrophysiologic data. DESIGN: Retrospective review of electrophysiologic data from 1993 to 2002. SETTING: A large urban county hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sequential patients (N=109) with the diagnosis of brachial plexopathy established by electromyography testing. This included 35 patients with GSW, 25 involved in an MVC, and 49 with other etiologies. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.Main Outcome Measures The brachial plexus was divided into 9 regions: upper, middle, and lower root; upper, middle, and lower trunks; and lateral, posterior, and medial cords. Regions involved by needle study on electromyography were denoted as positive or negative. The total number of regions involved was also recorded. RESULTS: Injury was most common in the trunks (52%), cords (36%), and roots (12%) (Pearson chi(2), P<.000). Specifically, the "other" category had the greatest number of injuries to the trunks (54%) (Pearson chi(2), P<.000), whereas the trunks (46%) and cords (45%) were more evenly affected in GSW cases (Pearson chi(2), P=.585). In the MVC group, there was a trend toward more trunks (56%) being affected (Pearson chi(2), P=.076). CONCLUSIONS: Differences were noted in the distribution of injury when examining subtypes of traumatic brachial plexopathies.

Language: en