Magnetic resonance imaging for detecting root avulsions in brachial plexus birth injuriesShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Journal of Hand Surgery, European Volume, ISSN 1753-1934, E-ISSN 2043-6289Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]
Introduction: We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of 3T magnetic resonance imaging in comparison with surgical exploration for detecting root avulsion in brachial plexus birth injuries. Methods: This retrospective cohort study describes a consecutive series of 18 infants with brachial plexus birth injuries born between January 2019 and May 2024 who had a surgical exploration of the plexus preceded by magnetic resonance imaging under the same general anaesthetic.
Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting root avulsion(s) of C5–T1 was 68%, with 67% sensitivity and 92% specificity. It has a ‘good’ diagnostic accuracy for detection of root avulsion, although only a ‘sufficient’ sensitivity.
Conclusion: Although useful, magnetic resonance imaging in its current form cannot be solely relied upon for clinical decision-making in brachial plexus birth injuries. Level of evidence: IV
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2025.
Keywords [en]
Brachial plexus birth injury, Erb’s palsy, magnetic resonance imaging, surgery
National Category
Orthopaedics Surgery
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-248194DOI: 10.1177/17531934251406957ISI: 001648809200001PubMedID: 41451467Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105025817722OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-248194DiVA, id: diva2:2027438
Funder
NIH (National Institutes of Health), CL 2021-02-0022026-01-132026-01-132026-01-13