[Destruction of the entry zone of the posterior roots as a method of treating chronic pain in traumatic damage to the brachial plexus].

To relieve a severe pain syndrome caused by trauma of the brachial plexus, the authors performed operation for destruction in places of traumatic avulsion of the posterior roots from the spinal cord in the projection of the posterior lateral sulcus ("destruction of the entry zone of the posterior roots"). Those roots whose representation corresponded to the spread of the pain syndrome were torn away as a rule. In cases of its wider spread along the dermatomes destruction was combined with residue-tomy of the preserved neighboring roots located above and below the avulsion. In 20 of 24 patients the result of the operation was good or quite satisfactory--the pain syndrome was relieved completely or by 75% and more. The pain diminished approximately by 50% ("mild improvement") in 3 cases and approximately by 25% ("poor result") in one case. The insufficient effect of the operation may be due to a coarse cicatricial-adhesive process in the region of the avulsion of the roots in the posterior lateral sulcus of the spinal cord. Surgical treatment of the pain syndrome in traumatic injuries of the brachial plexus by means of destruction of the entry zones of the posterior roots is a justified and effective method.