PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors have reviewed 67 axillary nerve lesions from 1987 to 1993. 35 times the lesion was isolated; 20 times it was associated to other nerve lesions (9 times supra scapular nerve, 3 times musculocutaneous nerve, 8 times posterior cord) and 12 times lesions were associated to rotator cuff injury. DISCUSSION: Injury corresponded 9 times to stretching mechanism in upper limb traction and came 58 times with osteoarticular lesions (30 anterior dislocations and 28 shoulder fractures). In 11 cases, shoulder active abduction was normal, inspite of deltoïd's complete palsy and this accounted for diagnosis delay. Concerning axillary nerve isolated lesions (35 cases), 7 recovered spontaneously and 28 have been operated. Surgical operation was undertaken 9 months after injury using a combined anterior and posterior approach. Rupture was located in the quadrilateral space and 23 nerve grafts, 4 neurolysis and 1 direct suture were performed. Results were good (muscle measured to M4) and excellent (muscle measured to M5) in 57 per cent of cases. Concerning axillary nerve lesions associated to suprascapular nerve lesions (9 cases) and musculocutaneous nerve (3 cases), all axillary nerve lesions were grafted with 50 per cent of good and very good results. The scapular nerve was neurolysed 6 times with 4 good and excellent results and evaluated irreparable in 3 cases. Musculocutaneous nerve was grafted in all cases with 2 good results out of 3. Posterior cord lesions (8 cases) required an osteotomy of the clavicle. Five grafts and 3 neurolysis were performed with aleatory results. At last, when associated lesions of the rotator cuff muscle were found (12 cases), 6 cases recovered spontaneously and 3 times cuff rupture was small enough to be reinserted with 2 good results. The 6 other cases corresponded to an axillary nerve rupture which were all grafted with 2 good results. On the cuff, result was in relation with lesion's type. Twice a supraspinatus tendon rupture was reinserted with 1 good result and 1 fair result. In 3 older patients, there was a small size rupture which has been reinserted with 1 good result, 1 fair result and 1 failure. At last, one surgical repair of a large rupture couldn't be justified. CONCLUSION: These encouraging results suggest to propose repair of axillary nerve when deltoid muscle palsy does not recover until 3 to 6 months. Rupture diagnosis is then suspected and the best surgical technique is a nerve graft.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors have reviewed 67 axillary nerve lesions from 1987 to 1993. 35 times the lesion was isolated; 20 times it was associated to other nerve lesions (9 times supra scapular nerve, 3 times musculocutaneous nerve, 8 times posterior cord) and 12 times lesions were associated to rotator cuff injury. DISCUSSION: Injury corresponded 9 times to stretching mechanism in upper limb traction and came 58 times with osteoarticular lesions (30 anterior dislocations and 28 shoulder fractures). In 11 cases, shoulder active abduction was normal, inspite of deltoïd's complete palsy and this accounted for diagnosis delay. Concerning axillary nerve isolated lesions (35 cases), 7 recovered spontaneously and 28 have been operated. Surgical operation was undertaken 9 months after injury using a combined anterior and posterior approach. Rupture was located in the quadrilateral space and 23 nerve grafts, 4 neurolysis and 1 direct suture were performed. Results were good (muscle measured to M4) and excellent (muscle measured to M5) in 57 per cent of cases. Concerning axillary nerve lesions associated to suprascapular nerve lesions (9 cases) and musculocutaneous nerve (3 cases), all axillary nerve lesions were grafted with 50 per cent of good and very good results. The scapular nerve was neurolysed 6 times with 4 good and excellent results and evaluated irreparable in 3 cases. Musculocutaneous nerve was grafted in all cases with 2 good results out of 3. Posterior cord lesions (8 cases) required an osteotomy of the clavicle. Five grafts and 3 neurolysis were performed with aleatory results. At last, when associated lesions of the rotator cuff muscle were found (12 cases), 6 cases recovered spontaneously and 3 times cuff rupture was small enough to be reinserted with 2 good results. The 6 other cases corresponded to an axillary nerve rupture which were all grafted with 2 good results. On the cuff, result was in relation with lesion's type. Twice a supraspinatus tendon rupture was reinserted with 1 good result and 1 fair result. In 3 older patients, there was a small size rupture which has been reinserted with 1 good result, 1 fair result and 1 failure. At last, one surgical repair of a large rupture couldn't be justified. CONCLUSION: These encouraging results suggest to propose repair of axillary nerve when deltoid muscle palsy does not recover until 3 to 6 months. Rupture diagnosis is then suspected and the best surgical technique is a nerve graft.