Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury

Context: In surgical management of global brachial plexus injuries, direct repair of contralateral C7 (cC7) to the anterior division of the lower trunk, can produce good extrinsic finger flexion. The pitfalls associated with the pre-spinal passage have, perhaps, proved to be a deterrent for using th...

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Main Authors: Piyush Bhupendra Doshi, Yogesh Chimanbhai Bhatt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2016-05-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0970-0358.191327
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author Piyush Bhupendra Doshi
Yogesh Chimanbhai Bhatt
author_facet Piyush Bhupendra Doshi
Yogesh Chimanbhai Bhatt
author_sort Piyush Bhupendra Doshi
collection DOAJ
description Context: In surgical management of global brachial plexus injuries, direct repair of contralateral C7 (cC7) to the anterior division of the lower trunk, can produce good extrinsic finger flexion. The pitfalls associated with the pre-spinal passage have, perhaps, proved to be a deterrent for using this technique routinely. Aims: The aim of this study is to demonstrate an alternative to pre-spinal route for cC7 transfer in brachial plexus avulsion injuries. Methods: We noted that the mobilised lower trunk, which reaches the level of the scalenus anterior by passage deep to the clavicle, can be brought to the suprasternal notch when brought out from below the clavicle. This area was dissected in two cadavres, and safe passage was found through the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery medially and the internal jugular vein with the vagus nerve laterally. The cC7 root dissected medial to the scalenus anterior muscle can be directly transferred along this path to the subcutaneous plane at the suprasternal notch. This study allowed us to execute a direct repair in ten clinical cases of global brachial plexus injuries. In each case, the passage was prepared rapidly and uneventfully. The repair was technically simple and could be performed comfortably using suitable fine suture materials. In none of these cases, did we need to shorten the humerus. Results: The clinical outcome of this technique is awaited. Conclusions: We advocate carotid sheath route to approximate the cC7 to the injured lower trunk in global palsies, as the risks associated with the pre-spinal route can be readily avoided.
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spelling doaj-art-db3e0fb5322544b69a1c6dfe076c268a2025-08-20T03:24:21ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2016-05-01490215916310.4103/0970-0358.191327Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injuryPiyush Bhupendra Doshi0Yogesh Chimanbhai Bhatt1Department of Plastic Surgery, SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre, Sumandeep Vidhyapeeth UniversityDepartment of Brachial Plexus Injury, Aakar Plastic Surgery Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, IndiaContext: In surgical management of global brachial plexus injuries, direct repair of contralateral C7 (cC7) to the anterior division of the lower trunk, can produce good extrinsic finger flexion. The pitfalls associated with the pre-spinal passage have, perhaps, proved to be a deterrent for using this technique routinely. Aims: The aim of this study is to demonstrate an alternative to pre-spinal route for cC7 transfer in brachial plexus avulsion injuries. Methods: We noted that the mobilised lower trunk, which reaches the level of the scalenus anterior by passage deep to the clavicle, can be brought to the suprasternal notch when brought out from below the clavicle. This area was dissected in two cadavres, and safe passage was found through the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery medially and the internal jugular vein with the vagus nerve laterally. The cC7 root dissected medial to the scalenus anterior muscle can be directly transferred along this path to the subcutaneous plane at the suprasternal notch. This study allowed us to execute a direct repair in ten clinical cases of global brachial plexus injuries. In each case, the passage was prepared rapidly and uneventfully. The repair was technically simple and could be performed comfortably using suitable fine suture materials. In none of these cases, did we need to shorten the humerus. Results: The clinical outcome of this technique is awaited. Conclusions: We advocate carotid sheath route to approximate the cC7 to the injured lower trunk in global palsies, as the risks associated with the pre-spinal route can be readily avoided.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0970-0358.191327anterior division of lower trunkbrachial plexus injurycarotid sheath routecontralateral c7direct repairfinger flexion
spellingShingle Piyush Bhupendra Doshi
Yogesh Chimanbhai Bhatt
Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
anterior division of lower trunk
brachial plexus injury
carotid sheath route
contralateral c7
direct repair
finger flexion
title Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
title_full Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
title_fullStr Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
title_full_unstemmed Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
title_short Passage through the carotid sheath: An alternative path to the pre-spinal route for direct repair of contralateral C7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
title_sort passage through the carotid sheath an alternative path to the pre spinal route for direct repair of contralateral c7 to the lower trunk in total brachial plexus root avulsion injury
topic anterior division of lower trunk
brachial plexus injury
carotid sheath route
contralateral c7
direct repair
finger flexion
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0970-0358.191327
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