Korean J Anesthesiol.  1998 Sep;35(3):574-581. 10.4097/kjae.1998.35.3.574.

Brachial Plexus Injury Following Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Using a Transarterial Approach: A case report

• Kim JG
• Song SO
• Jee DL
• Yeo JE

• KMID: 2240150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1998.35.3.574

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.

Keyword

Anesthetic techniques, regional: brachial plexus block; axillary; transarterial; Complication, nerve: injury; postoperative

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arm
Brachial Plexus*
Electromyography
Emergencies
Forearm
Hand
Humans
Male
Nerve Block
Radial Nerve
Regeneration
Sensation
Tourniquets
Ulnar Nerve