Value of Clinical Findings, Electrodiagnosis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Root Lesions in Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries
Cholawish Chanlalit, MD*, Kittiwan Vipulakorn, MD*, Kitti Jiraruttanapochai, MD*, Eimorn Mairiang, MD**, Prathana Chowcheun, MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : To evaluate the diagnostic value of clinical findings, electromyography and magnetic resonance
imaging of root lesions in traumatic brachial plexus injuries
Materials and Methods : The authors clinically evaluated 175 cervical roots (C5-8, T1) in patients with traumatic
brachial plexus injuries then with electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each finding,
taken alone and in combination with each other, was compared with the findings of exploratory surgery.
Results : The mean correlations of the clinical findings, electromyography and MRI in relation to the surgical
findings were 60, 87 and 70 percent, respectively. The mean correlation was highest (90%) when the positive
findings from the clinical, electromyographic or MRI investigations were combined. The correlation of the
C5-6 root injuries was improved to 100% though the mean correlation was only 90%.
Conclusion : The combination of clinical findings and electromyography correlated well with the surgical
findings of root lesions caused by traumatic brachial plexus injury. MRI markedly improved identification
only of C5-6 root injuries.
Keywords : Traumatic brachial plexus injuries, Clinical finding, Electrodiagnosis, MRI
