Surgery of the brachial plexus.

The principles and difficulties of surgery of brachial plexus lesions in 52 cases are reported. In 22 cases there was avulsion of one or more roots. Six lesions were infraclavicular. Reconstruction by means of autologous grafts was performed in 24 cases, neurolysis in 14 cases, direct suture in two cases, and intercostal neurotization in 12 avulsion cases. Fifty-one patients were evaluated on average 4 years after the operation. The result was good in 19 cases, fair in 13 cases and poor or nil in 19 cases. Regained function was best at the level of the elbow. Functional recovery of M. biceps after fascicular grafting was achieved in 16 cases. In neurotization cases, functional recovery was achieved in four cases.