BACKGROUND: The brachial plexus is an important part of peripheral nervous systems. The studies of variation of the brachial plexus and its parts in the prenatal period are extremely rare. OBJECTIVES: The goal of the study was to assess brachial plexus trunk variability and their divisions in human fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were carried out on a total of 220 brachial plexuses derived from 110 fetuses aged 4-7 months, including 50 females (45.45%) in a CRL range of 80-233 mm. The following methods were incorporated into the study: anthropological, dissection, digital image acquisition and statistical methods. Symmetry and sexual dimorphism was observed. RESULTS: Trunk variations were observed in 12 (5.45%) plexus divisions as well as in 74 (33.6%) variants cases. Variants were equally common in both genders and on both sides of the body. Variants of individual trunks were of a similar percentage, usually an observed central trunk formed by nerve roots C7 and C8. Anterior division of the middle trunk (ADMT) was the most variable division, observed in 63 (28.63%) cases. There was no asymmetry and sexual dimorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Trunk variants are rare and anomalies of divisions were observed in one-third of cases, regardless of the side of the body and sex. Brachial plexus variation recognition is important from a clinical point of view.
BACKGROUND: The brachial plexus is an important part of peripheral nervous systems. The studies of variation of the brachial plexus and its parts in the prenatal period are extremely rare. OBJECTIVES: The goal of the study was to assess brachial plexus trunk variability and their divisions in human fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were carried out on a total of 220 brachial plexuses derived from 110 fetuses aged 4-7 months, including 50 females (45.45%) in a CRL range of 80-233 mm. The following methods were incorporated into the study: anthropological, dissection, digital image acquisition and statistical methods. Symmetry and sexual dimorphism was observed. RESULTS: Trunk variations were observed in 12 (5.45%) plexus divisions as well as in 74 (33.6%) variants cases. Variants were equally common in both genders and on both sides of the body. Variants of individual trunks were of a similar percentage, usually an observed central trunk formed by nerve roots C7 and C8. Anterior division of the middle trunk (ADMT) was the most variable division, observed in 63 (28.63%) cases. There was no asymmetry and sexual dimorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Trunk variants are rare and anomalies of divisions were observed in one-third of cases, regardless of the side of the body and sex. Brachial plexus variation recognition is important from a clinical point of view.
Authors: Banafsheh Sharif-Askary; Esperanza Mantilla-Rivas; Ishwarya Mamidi; Joseph Talbet; Monica Manrique; Marudeen Aivaz; Robert F Keating; Albert K Oh; Gary F Rogers Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2020-04-24