[Form of manifestations and course of brachial plexus lesions following medial sternotomy].

A prospective study is reported of the prevalence, the clinical picture and the course of plexus brachialis lesions following median sternotomy during heart operations. The study comprises 1,585 patients. In 22 patients (1.39%) a lesion of the lower plexus brachialis was found postoperatively. In 12 patients the plexus lesion was combined with an ipsilateral Horner syndrome. The present study suggests that in spite of cautious use of the sternal retractor, the appearance of a postoperative plexus lesion cannot be completely avoided. In contrast to a cranial incision of the retractor, which can be associated with a posterior fracture of the first rib, a caudal placement of the retractor seems to induce a superior luxation of the first rib and local hematoma without concurrent fracture. Re-examinations of the patients demonstrated a good prognosis of these plexus lesions, the Horner syndromes, however, may remain for a longer time period. It is advisable that patients who have to undergo a heart operation with median sternotomy should be informed beforehand about the possible side-effects described here.