Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

Learn about the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and our masking policy »

Stanford Health Care

Gunshot wounds involving the brachial plexus: Surgical techniques and outcomes JOURNAL OF RECONSTRUCTIVE MICROSURGERY Kim, D. H., Murovic, J. A., Tiel, R. L., Kline, D. G. 2006; 22 (2): 67-72

Abstract

This paper presents the management and outcomes for two consecutive operative series of gunshot wounds (GSWs) involving the brachial plexus. The cases were from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) and were obtained by retrospective chart reviews. Series 1 includes patients with injuries managed between 1968 and 1980 and series 2, from 1981 to 1998. Pre- and postoperative motor function was assessed using the LSUHSC grading system. The outcomes for each surgical technique for each series are presented. Fewer cases of brachial plexus elements injured by GSWs in series 2 may be due to decreased firearm-related injuries between 1993-1997, i.e., 39,595 versus 32,436 deaths, respectively. The graft repair increase in series 2 may have been the result of more severe injuries, since documented trends between 1971 and 1997 show the use of larger caliber bullets. This paper shows that with the outlined management and surgical techniques, surgery on certain GSWs of the brachial plexus is worthwhile.

View details for Web of Science ID 000235569400001

View details for PubMedID 16456765