Cervical Myelography in Brachial Plexus Injuries

Kim, Sang Soo; Kim, Ju O; Shim, Dae Moo; Han, Hong Jun

Abstract

With the increase of frequency and the recent development of surgical treatment in brachial plexus injury, the requirement for accurate assessment between supra and infraganglionic injury is increased. Cervical myelography has been the popular tool in evaluating the root lesion since the first introduction of Murphey et al. in 1947. However, the invasiveness of procedure has been the impediment to the common-use. But with the utilization of water-soluble contrast media, Metrizamide, such impediment can be alleviated. Author has performed myelography in 27 patients along with surgical exploration in 18 patients since 1984. And the results were as follows. 1. 85% of 27 patient revealed anomaly of root in myelography. 2. Traumatic menimgoceles were typical findings and most of them were located at C7 and C5. 3. Myelography reaveled 70%(28 root) of anomalies among 40 root lesions, confirmed by surgical explorations. 4. Myelography is considered to be very effective in evaluating supra and infraganglionic root lesions when its results is correlated with physical and other neurological examination.