Brachial plexus injury after a left-side modified radical mastectomy associated with patient positioning in the operating room

D. A. Cristian, F. A. Grama, T. Burcos, A. Poalelungi

Abstract: We present a rare case of brachial plexus injury related to the positioning of the patient on the operating table during the radical breast surgery of a 65-year-old female. The specific risk factors of the plexus injury were: excessive abduction, external rotation of the arm, dorsally extension of the shoulder; head flected and also in a counter-lateral excessive rotation. We describe the clinical presentation of a lesion of the upper (posterior cord) and middle trunk of the brachial plexus with preserved continuity.
DOI:10.18643/gieu.2013.136

Keywords: brachial plexus injury, breast mastectomy, patient malpositioning