Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 1999 , Vol 9 , Num 2
NEUROTIZATION OF THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS WITH THE INTERCOSTAL NERVES
Osman Niyazi AKIN, Murat KUTLAY, Levent TOSYALI
GATA Haydarpaşa Eğitim Hastanesi Nöroşirürji Kliniği, İstanbul Brachial plexus avulsion injuries cause a severe loss of function in the upper extremity. Despite several therapeutic modalities have been tried in the treatment of these lesions, satisfactory results have not been obtained yet. Recently, neurotization operations which can be performed by using several neural elements are often preferred. In this study, we presented two patients who underwent brachial plexus neurotization with intercostal nerves. While this surgical intervention is usually performed by changing the patient's position four or three times, we performed it by changing only two times. We consider that intercostal nerves which can be easily used at the neurotization are the most appropriate donor nerves. In order to obtain good results, the surgeon must be sure that the avulsion is complete before the operation and the neurotization should be performed early as soon as possible. Since the most useful isolated movement of the upper extremity is elbow flexion, neurotization of n. musculocutaneous must be the first target of the operation. Anahtar Kelimeler : Brachial plexus, intercostal nerve, neurotiza tion