[Traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus : Clinical symptoms, diagnostics and treatment].

Brachial plexus lesions mostly occur in young patients as a result of high-speed accidents. They are often diagnosed and treated after a delay. This has been shown to worsen the prognosis of surgical reconstructions evidently. In 70-80% of traumatic lesions functional reinnervation can be achieved by various surgical procedures. An early sufficient diagnosis and the subsequent referral of the patient to an appropriate competence center for consultation and, if necessary, surgery are therefore essential.