Keywords
brachial plexus injury - obstetric brachial plexus palsy - microsurgery - nerve repair
- direct suture - tension
Introduction
Severe upper and total obstetric brachial plexus palsies (OBPPs) need early surgical
exploration and microsurgical reconstruction.[1] The brachial plexus lesion is routinely exposed through a transverse supraclavicular
approach and consists most often in root ruptures and/or avulsion(s) associated with
neuroma formation in the supra- and retroclavicular space. Although root avulsions
may not be addressed surgically and repaired directly in young children, if two or
three root stumps remain, an intraplexic reconstruction after resection of the neuroma
with autologous bridging grafts is most often feasible. Extraplexic nerve transfers
might be added.
After the resection of the neuroma which usually extends over 1 to 2.5 cm, the proximal
and distal stumps should be controlled histologically and then autologous grafts are
interposed and anastomosed both proximally and distally, using microsurgical sutures
(8 to 10/0) and/or fibrin glue.
The use of grafts needs autologous nerve harvest, most often at the leg (sural nerve),
associated with a donor defect (scar, loss of sensibility).
In total lesions, the lower trunk is often conserved in its length as the roots C8
and T1 are frequently avulsed, and then it might be sutured directly to a remaining
root, either C7 or C6. It is also sometimes possible to reconnect the middle trunk
directly, after excision of a short neuroma.
These observations help us identify specific cases of upper lesions, where extensive
distal, retroclavicular dissection of the affected trunks and their proximal mobilization
allowed direct suture of the upper and/or middle trunk to the original root stumps,
thereby realizing a microsurgical reconstruction with single coaptation sites and
without donor nerve morbidity.
We present our surgical technique and preliminary results from a prospective patient
series.
Surgical Technique
In some clinical cases of peripheral nerve injury, especially of radial nerve repair
at the humeral shaft level, we encounter proper nerve stumps with a short gap (around
1 cm, [Fig. 1]) needing either short grafts or a technique of distal stump advancement to perform
a direct nerve suture. As direct sutures with 8/0 epineural anastomosis provided excellent
clinical recovery despite some tension, we tried to apply this technique to the reconstruction
of OBPP.
Fig. 1 Trimmed nerve stumps of a radial nerve entrapment injury before and after direct
coaptation.
There is, of course, no possibility of preoperative selection. Only when the lesion
has been exposed and shows two or three good upper root stumps, and a rather short
neuroma (macroscopically 1.5 cm maximum), we investigate the possibility to bring
the distal nerve parts more proximally using different technical tricks.
First, the distal trunks and cords are dissected as far distally as possible in the
retroclavicular area and even in the infraclavicular area (through the supraclavicular
incision only); therefore, the clavicle is looped with an aspiration silicone tube
and all adhesions around the traumatized nerves are freed in the retro- and infraclavicular
spaces ([Fig. 2]). The upper extremity is brought into elbow flexion and shoulder adduction, and
the upward movement of the distal nerve stumps close to the proximal parts is analyzed.
We always take histologic samples from the proximal and distal stumps to make sure
no major (perineural) scar or neuroma (the presence of minifascicles) is left—which
would preclude proper reinnervation.
Fig. 2 Intraoperative situation before neuroma excision and possible coaptation of upper
and middle trunk.
Then, the suture is tried with isolated 8/0 epiperineural sutures and a microsurgical
grasp holding the distal nerve part until the first one or two sutures are accomplished.
If these do not rupture, the anastomosis is performed circumferentially (six or eight
sutures to decrease the local tensile strength) and is finally wrapped with fibrin
glue (Tisseel 2 mL Baxter). The other coaptations are performed in the same way and
after bringing back the adipofascial flap, the wound is closed and the arm is maintained
flexed and adducted with the head and neck in a plaster immobilization for 2 weeks.
After this period, the head is freed and the arm is maintained in elbow flexion of
90 degrees for 1 more week. Then the restriction of passive motion is abandoned and
the physiotherapy started again.
Materials and Methods
Between 2009 and 2016, we identified 22 out of 140 operated OBPPs reconstructed by
direct nerve coaptation, initially suffering from an upper lesion (14 right, 8 left)
operated at a mean age of 8.4 months (1 exception being operated at 3 months of age,
due to a subtotal lesion with Horner's sign).
Nine underwent surgery in 2016, four in 2015, two in 2014, four in 2013, and the rest
before 2012.
There were:
-
Fourteen cases of combined ruptures of the upper and middle trunk segment, including
lesions in the distal radicular area. Among them we found three cases associated with
a C8 root rupture.
-
Seven cases of isolated upper trunk lesions, one of them associated with a C8 root
rupture.
-
One case of partial upper trunk lesion.
The maximum length of neuroma excised was 15 mm, allowing for direct suture after
stump mobilization.
The following reconstructions were performed:
-
Seven anatomic reconstructions by direct sutures of the upper and middle trunk.
-
Thirteen reconstructions of the upper trunk alone (six of which were anatomic and
seven were partially anatomic, involving a direct suture between the fifth and sixth
roots with the upper trunk).
-
Two anatomic reconstructions by direct sutures of the middle trunk.
Among the partially anatomic reconstructions of the upper trunk, we performed associated
complete or fascicular intraplexic nerve transfers from the fifth or sixth root, participating
in the direct suture with the middle trunk in three cases and with the distal C8 root
in one case. We also found two cases of anatomic reconstruction of the C8 root by
direct suture and one more case of direct suture between C7 root and C8 root. The
two cases of anatomic reconstruction of the middle trunk alone were associated with
a graft reconstruction of the upper trunk.
Extraplexual neurotization of the suprascapular nerve by the distal branch of the
accessory nerve was performed in 11 of our cases, given that the beginning of the
suprascapular nerve was lost with the neuroma excision.
Recently, we were able to perform the same technique in a 15-year-old adult with fresh
traumatic brachial plexus injury due to a motorcycle accident (including complete
rupture of the roots C5, C6, and C7).
All patients were immobilized within 2 weeks and then underwent regular physiotherapy
and postoperative functional evaluation at 6-month intervals, testing active and passive
range of motion.
Results
Functional recovery started 4 months after the surgery. We were impressed by the high-quality
improvement, especially at the shoulder and elbow levels ([Videos 1] and [2] of two different patients were taken 9 months after the surgery). The active shoulder
abduction and flexion range obtained seemed to be better compared with all graft results
we have seen in 15 years, even when slight coactivation pattern could be identified.
All patients were assessed regularly measuring shoulder abduction/external rotation
and elbow flexion.
Our preliminary results are the following:
-
All children attained 60 to 90 degrees of elbow flexion 6 months after the surgery
and their mean shoulder abduction was of 75 degrees at the same time elapse.
-
The mean active shoulder abduction reached 92 degrees 1 year after surgery and 124
degrees after 18 months. For the same group of patients, the mean external rotation
ranged between 60 and 90 degrees.
In two cases with pure upper trunk reconstruction without addressing specifically
shoulder lateral rotation, a medial rotation motion pattern with limited passive lateral
rotation of the glenohumeral joint with the arm in adduction was observed; so, we
recommend in these cases to associate systematically with an extraplexic neurotization
of the suprascapular nerve by the distal branch of the accessorius XIth cranial nerve
to create immediately a counteracting lateral rotation force.
Discussion
Direct sutures in obstetric brachial plexus lesions have been described for over 100
years[2] and are part of the reconstruction strategy in other OBPP teams.[3] We hereby present our series of (extended) upper lesions with short neuroma excision
and intended direct repair as described earlier.
The direct suture technique has clear advantages: no grafts are needed; fast (and
probably stronger) recovery through dense nerve fascicles; and “anatomical” reconstruction.
The drawbacks are that one should accept some tension at the coaptation site (elbow
flexion 90 degrees)[4] and some neuroma/minifascicles at the transsection and coaptation level might be
responsible for some neuromatous coactivations.
To our knowledge, there are only eight studies[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] that discuss suture under tension which were performed on rats, cats, dogs, and
monkeys, using sciatic or upper limb nerves, and studying the outcome by histology
and nerve conduction. There are so far no conclusive data about what is better and
how much tension is tolerated: some surgeons use the test of 10 or 9/0 filament rupture
to decide about a direct repair.
The limitations of this technique are the distance between the nerve ends and the
distal dissection achieved, offering the necessary length for a loose suture. However,
attention should be paid to the slight difference between tension free and loose suture.
A very close coaptation might lead to axonal malalignment because of the great interference
of intraneural connective tissue, while a loose coaptation would allow the endoneural
tissue to protrude from the fascicles.
In addition, it should be kept in mind that healthy nerve tissue, proximally and distally
to the suture site, is well extensible, being able to compensate for short defects,
under the condition of being fully freed. Millesi has already expressed his confidence
in this inner nerve extensibility, presenting first the possibility of a direct neurorrhaphy
taking place in spite of a relatively large gap by flexing the adjacent joints, in
a final effort to decrease tension.
As always, the inability to organize a statistical analysis to support a surgical
technique is a vulnerable point for its spread. The great variability and individuality
of the lesions encountered, as well as the rarity of cases, render a potential categorization
or classification of the lesions very difficult, if not impossible. What is more,
the surgical reconstruction performed is individualized and adapted to the lesions
encountered. Therefore, a statistical analysis of our results is not feasible. Finally,
surgical capacity is another important limitation affecting the outcome of this technique.
Conclusion
Severe OBPP lesions are defined only after a thorough supraclavicular exploration.
The assessment of the proximal root quality (by electrical stimulation and neuropathology)
is possible and mandatory. From dense fiber reconstruction by multiple grafts or direct
coaptation, we would expect enhanced muscle strength.
Concerning the technique of direct sutures in microsurgical OBPP repair, there remains
questions about the tolerable tension (see the mechanical–histologic studies by Trumble[4]) and the importance of minimal residual neuroma at the proximal or distal nerve
stumps. Nevertheless, the good clinical results in these selected cases encourage
us to further develop and promote this technique in peripheral nerve reconstruction.
