Abstract
Objective The incidence of traumatic brachial plexus injuries has been increasing considerably
in Brazil, mainly due to the increase in the number of motorcycle accidents. The aim
of the present study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of brachial plexus avulsion lesions, comparing it with
the findings of physical and intraoperative examination.
Methods A total of 16 patients with brachial plexus injury were prospectively evaluated and
treated at the hand surgery outpatient clinic from our service. All patients underwent
MRI of the brachial plexus, and the findings were inserted on a table, as well as
the physical examination data, and part of the patients had the plexus evaluated intraoperatively.
Results In the present study, the accuracy of MRI in the identification of root avulsion
was 100%, with 100% sensitivity and specificity when comparing imaging with surgical
findings.
Conclusion Magnetic resonance imaging showed high sensitivity and specificity, confirmed by
intraoperative findings, which allows considering this test as the gold standard in
the diagnosis of avulsion in traumatic brachial plexus injuries.
Keywords
brachial plexus/diagnostic imaging - brachial plexus/injuries - brachial plexus/surgery
- peripheral nerve injuries - magnetic resonance imaging - diagnosis differential
