Satisfaction and Functional Outcome of Surgical Treatment in Patients with Brachial Plexus Injury: A Decade of Retrospective Comparative Study

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a severe peripheral nerve injury resulting in physical disability. Few studies have investigated the postoperative functional status. We aimed to evaluate the satisfaction with surgical treatment in patients with BPI referred to the Panzdah-e Khordad Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2011 to 2021. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical retrospective comparative study, physical examination, along with BrAT, and DASH questionnaires were used to evaluate the patients’ status. Then the collected data on the patients’ functional status and movements were collected. To compare the mean of quantitative variables before and after the surgery, the dependent t-student was used. RESULTS: Generally, the patients stated that they still had considerable difficulty doing most of the items of the questionnaires. Nevertheless, there was a significant difference between the following variables before and after surgery; shoulder abduction goniometry (0-150) and force (M0:M5), shoulder external rotation goniometry (0-90) and force (M0:M5)), shoulder forward flexion goniometry (0-180) and force (M0:M5)), elbow flexion goniometry (0- 150), elbow extension force (M0:M5), and wrist and finger muscle force (M0:M5) (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Posterior approach in BPI surgery was associated with good outcomes in terms of shoulder external rotation and abduction. However, patients still suffered from difficulties in daily activities.