• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2014

Objectives The objective of this study is to report the effects of acupuncture on neonatal brachial plexus palsy (neonatal brachial plexopathy). Methods We treated the patient with acupuncture for 4 months. Acupuncture was performed on the infant with flaccid paresis of a lower extremity. The effects of neonatal brachial plexus injury were measured by the active movement scale and the electromyographic test. Results 1. In electromyographic test, conduction velocity in left median nerve was elevated. 2. Active movement scale score was increased from 6 to 27 during the 4 months of treatment. 3. Grasping power of the patient's left hand was 60% stronger than the first medical examination. Conclusions This study showed that acupuncture was effective in treating the symptoms of brachial plexopathy. The further studies might be also needed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to know the effect of acupuncture on brachial plexus palsy due to birth injury. Methods We decided to treat one week of Vojta therapy and occupational therapy, but other were combined, and then add three weeks of acupuncture treatment as well. Results Right clavicle fracture at birth brachial plexus injury due to decreased locomotion of the right upper extremity, muscle weakness in children aged 7 months to Vojta therapy, occupational therapy and acupuncture, when performed in conjunction mobility increase of the shoulder joint, elbow support improvement, recovery of motor function of the hand grip, etc. to obtain a significant motor function recovery improvement. Conclusion Acupuncture was a good treatment of choice for the better shoulder, joint and hands movements.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2020

This study aimed to show the effects of Korean medicine treatment (particularly bee-venom pharmacopunture) on a patient with brachial plexus palsy. A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with brachial plexus palsy on the right upper extremity and was treated with Korean and Western medicine from September 30^th to November 6^th, 2019. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated using the Manual Muscle Test, Range of Motion and visual analogue scale. After treatment, the patient's Manual Muscle Test grade and Range of Motion were improved, and the Visual Analogue Scale score indicated the intensity of her right hand numbness had decreased. These results suggested that improper use of crutches can result in brachial plexus palsy and a Korean-Western medicine treatment regimen primarily focused on bee-venom pharmacopunture, may be effective in reducing the symptoms of brachial plexus palsy.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2010

This study was performed to report the effect of oriental medical treatment and general biomechanic manipulation on a patient with upper limb palsy caused by postural brachial plexus injury. The patient was treated with acupuncture, herb medicine and general biomechanic manipulation. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated with range of motion, visual analogue scale and manual muscle test. After 11 times treatment, motion and muscular force were progressed, pain was decreased. This result suggests that oriental medical treatment and general coordinative manipulation are effective to care the postural brachial plexus injury.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

Complete denervation after severe brachial plexus injury make significant muscle atrophy with loss of proper function. It is much helpful to reconstruct the essential function of the elbow flexion movement in patient with total loss of elbow flexion motion after brachial plexus lesion which was not recovered with nerve surgery or long term conservative treatment from onset. In whole arm type brachial plexus injury, if there were no response to neurotization or neglected from injury, the volume of the denervated muscle is significantely reduced month by month. About 18 months most of the muscle fibers change to fibrous tissues and markedly atrophied irreversibly, further waiting is no more meaningful from that period. Authors performed 14 cases of functioning gracilis muscle transfer from 1981 to 1995 with microneurovascular technique, neuromusculocutaneous free flaps were performed for reconstruction of lost elbow flexion function. Average follow-up period was 5 years and 6 months. We used couple of intercostal nerves as a recipient nerve which were anastomosed to muscular nerve from obturator nerve in all cases. Recipient vessels were three deep brachial artery and eleven brachial artery which were anastomosed to medial femoral circumflex artery with end to end or end to side fashion. Average resting length of the transplanted gracilis were 24 cm. We can get average 54 degree flexion range of elbow with fair muscle power from flail elbow. There were one case of muscle necrosis with lately developed thrombosis of microvascular anastomosed site which comes from insufficient recipient arterial condition, 3 cases of partial marginal necrosis of distal skin of the transplanted part which were not significant problem with spontaneously solved with time goes by gracilis muscle has constant neurovascular pattern with relatively easy harvesting donor with minimal donor morbidity. Especially it has similar length and shape with biceps brachii muscle of upper arm and longer nerve pedicle which can neurorrhaphy with intercostal nerve without nerve graft if sufficient mobilization of the nerves from both sides of gracilis and intercostal region. Authors can propose gracilis muscle transplantation with intercostal nerves neurotization is helpful method with minimal donor morbidity for neglected brachial plexus palsy patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.491-493
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• 2015

The upper trunk of the brachial plexus is the most common area affected by neuralgic amyotrophy (NA), and paresis of the shoulder girdle muscle is the most prevalent manifestation. Posterior interosseous nerve palsy is a rare presentation in patients with NA. It results in dropped finger on the affected side and may be misdiagnosed as entrapment syndrome or compressive neuropathy. We report an unusual case of NA manifested as PIN palsy and suggest that knowledge of clinical NA phenotypes is crucial for early diagnosis of peripheral nerve palsies.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.143-146
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• 2001

Background : Backpack palsy was described in military personnel with shoulder girdle and proximal upper extremity symptoms, predominantly motor in nature related to the use of heavy backpack. Currently, backpack were used for sports, transporting school books and child carriers. We evaluated clinical and electrophysiological feature of backpack palsy. Methods : We included 11 patients with brachial plexopathy as a result of wearing a heavy backpack on long distance marches. All patients were done routine blood sampling, chest X-ray, C-spine X-ray and electrophysiological studies. Results : All patients were right handed person and were not as having a thoracic outlet syndrome. Sensory changes were main initial symptoms and major persistent symptoms were motor weakness. 9 patients(81.8%) were damaged the brachial plexus on non-dominant side, 1 patient was dominant and 1 patient was bilateral involvement. 10 patients(90.9%) were damaged to upper trunk of the brachial plexus by EMG findings. The prognosis was good, 10 patients(90.9%) were complete recovery during 8 weeks, 1 patient was developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy confirmed by 3-phase bone scan. Conclusions : Depression of the clavicle and costoclavicular space probably plays a certain role in pathogenic mechanism. The non-dominant side is more frequently affected, probably due to underdevelopment of the musculature in that side.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2018

Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is a rare disease characterized by lymphomatous invasion of the cranial or peripheral nerves by lymphoma. A high suspicion is important due to the various presenting symptoms mandating consideration of many differential diagnoses. We report a case of NL of the cranial nerves and plexus presenting as diplopia, facial palsy, and weakness of the upper and lower limbs in sequence.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2015

The latissimus dorsi flap is popular due to the versatile nature of its applications. When used as a pedicled flap it provides a robust solution when soft tissue coverage is required following breast, thoracic and head and neck surgery. Its utilization as a free flap is extensive due to the muscle's size, constant anatomy, large caliber of the pedicle and the fact it can be used for functional muscle transfers. In facial palsy it provides the surgeon with a long neurovascular pedicle that is invaluable in situations where commonly used facial vessels are not available, in congenital cases or where previous free functional muscle transfers have been attempted, or patients where a one-stage procedure is indicated and a long nerve is required to reach the contra-lateral side. Although some facial palsy surgeons use the trans-axillary approach, an operative guide of raising the flap by this method has not been provided. A clear guide of raising the flap with the patient in the supine position is described in detail and offers the benefits of reducing the risk of potential brachial plexus injury and allows two surgical teams to work synchronously to reduce operative time.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2014

There are several kinds of regional nerve blockades, such as interscalene brachial plexus block, C5 root block, suprascapular nerve block, and axillary nerve block, which can be applied for anesthesia and postoperative pain control after shoulder surgeries. These regional nerve blockades have shown good results, but high failure rate and serious complications, such as phrenic nerve palsy, pneumothorax, and nerve injury, still remain. Ultrasound-guided intervention can increase the success rate of nerve blockades and reduce complications. We described the method of ultrasound-guided intervention for the regional nerve blockades around shoulder.