Brachial Plexus Injury Following Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Using a Transarterial Approach: A case report.
10.4097/kjae.1998.35.3.574
- Author:
Jong Gyun KIM
1
;
Sun Ok SONG
;
Dae Lim JEE
;
Jung Eun YEO
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Anesthetic techniques, regional: brachial plexus block;
axillary;
transarterial;
Complication, nerve: injury;
postoperative
- MeSH:
Adult;
Arm;
Brachial Plexus*;
Electromyography;
Emergencies;
Forearm;
Hand;
Humans;
Male;
Nerve Block;
Radial Nerve;
Regeneration;
Sensation;
Tourniquets;
Ulnar Nerve
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
1998;35(3):574-581
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A 25-year-old male patient was received emergency operation, open reduction and tenorrhaphy owing to degloving injury on the dorsum of his left hand, under axillary brachial plexus block using a transarterial approach. Following operation, he revealed the signs and symptoms of brachial plexus injury such as weakness, sensory deficit and tingling sensation on his left forearm and hand. The finding on electromyography (EMG), performed on the 16th postoperative day (POD), was indicative of left incomplete brachial plexus injury, mainly in medial cord and ulnar nerve, and partially median and radial nerve at/above the axillary level. The signs and symptoms were improved slightly on POD 8 and a lot on POD 23. The complete recovery of symptoms and regeneration of injured nerve on EMG were confirmed 3 months following operation. In this case, the causative factors of brachial plexus injury were suggested in stretching of the brachial plexus due to improper positioning of injured arm during or after operation, combined with or without injury due to nerve block or tourniquet compression.
