Investigation of brachial plexus injuries by intraoperative cortical somatosensory evoked potentials.

With the intention of estimating the extent and site of damage in brachial plexus injuries which involve close to the root outlet and also the distal portion, cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were recorded in 21 patients by directly stimulating the exposed brachial plexus. In 38 avulsed nerve roots which showed positive sensory action potentials (SNAP)/nerve action potentials (NAP) in their peripheral part, 15 roots (nine patients) were apparently in continuity and confirmed as root avulsion injury by the absence of cortical SEP. However, 11 roots (ten patients) which showed neither SNAP nor SEP would suggest either extensive lesions involving root and more distal segment or a combination of root avulsion and postganglionic injury. Fourteen patients who showed a positive Tinel's sign had at least one root with a postganglionic type lesion, but cortical SEP evoked by stimulation of the most proximal root zone sometimes revealed a reduced amplitude and prolonged latency. This would indicate the retrograde extension of damage. To confirm the extent and degree of the nerve lesions in brachial plexus injuries, an intraoperative SEP and NAP recording is very useful, practical, and also indispensable.