OBJECTIVE: To study injuries involving brachial plexus and its branches. METHODS: 66 cases collected from 2003 to 2005 in our department were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: 94% of injuries involved young adult males; 94% were blunt force injuries; 34% involved both nerve and bone mainly involving ulnar nerve and ulnar bone (50%); 40% of the injured nerves received electromyogram and 15 nerves were diagnosed with injuries clinically. CONCLUSION Forensic determination on severity of brachial plexus injuries mainly depends on movement recovery of limb. The best time for forensic appraisal is 20 d post operation+L (length of nerve severed distally)/R (growth rate)+90 d.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus/physiopathology* ; Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/physiopathology* ; Electromyography ; Female ; Forearm Injuries/physiopathology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve/injuries* ; Trauma Severity Indices ; Ulnar Nerve/injuries* ; Young Adult