ORIGINAL PAPER
Occupational shoulder disability: functional recovery after decompression and neurolysis of the upper brachial plexus and the long thoracic nerve
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Texas Nerve and Paralysis Institute, Houston, USA
(Research Division)
Online publication date: 2021-01-08
Corresponding author
Rahul K. Nath
Texas Nerve and Paralysis Institute, Research Division, 6400 Fannin St., Houston, Texas-77030, USA
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(3):427-35
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the surgical outcomes of patients with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UE-MSDs)
who failed conservative treatment. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 17 patients who had work-related UE-MSDs and underwent
the following surgeries and follow-up evaluations: decompression, external and internal neurolysis of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus and
the long thoracic nerve (LTN), and a partial resection of the anterior and middle scalene muscle. A detailed history of clinical presentation including
pain, physical and clinical examinations of the extent of scapular winging (ESW), and upper extremity anatomical postures, such as active forward
arm flexion and shoulder abduction, were recorded before and after 3 months of the surgery. Nerve conduction velocity and electromyography examination
reports were obtained to assess the sensory or motor loss of the nerve injury before their operation. Results: All 17 patients included in this
report showed some improvement anatomically in the scapula appearance and functionally in their shoulder movements. More specifically, 9 (53%)
patients got a restored to near healthy appearance of the scapula, and 11 (65%) patients recovered a full range of motion, 180° post-surgically. Overall,
the mean shoulder flexion and abduction improved to 157±37.5° and 155±40.2° after the surgery from 106±30.2° and 111±34.8°, respectively
(p < 0.0001). The ESW score also significantly improved from a mean of 1.5±0.51 to 3.5±0.71 (p < 0.0001). The post-surgical improvements were
statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Decompression and neurolysis of the upper brachial plexus and the LTN, and the partial
release of the scalene muscle contracture procedures have fostered improvements in the shoulder anatomical appearance and movements in all 17 patients. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(3):427–35