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Birth related brachial plexus injury
Injury to the brachial plexus is often caused during delivery and therefore it is also called obstetric paralysis.
Pulling on the baby’s arm may cause stretching in the shoulder area and significant damage to the brachial plexus nerves.
Microsurgical treatment of birth related brachial plexus injury
During the operation, using a high magnification microscope, microsurgical
tools and electrophysiological monitoring, brachial plexus nerves are released from external and occasionally internal scars that were caused as a result of traction.
In cases of complete injury with nerve rupture, reconstruction is performed using a nerve transplant.
These techniques are designed to allow recovery and rehabilitation of a damaged
brachial plexus.
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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a condition in which the nerves and blood vessels in the lower neck area are compressed. Common symptoms are pain, weakness, numbness, swelling, color, or temperature changes in the upper limb and may also appear in the neck area, below the clavicle, in the armpit area, and on the upper back.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome may be caused by trauma such as "whiplash"
or overexertion, and more rarely is caused by congenital malformation - cervical rib. Surgical intervention is recommended if conservative treatment,
such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, does not improve the
patient's condition.
Microsurgical treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Surgical treatment of TOS is performed by access over the subclavian bone using a high magnification microscope, microsurgical tools and electrophysiological monitoring.
Those all allow a careful and accurate release of the brachial plexus nerves from pressure arising from muscles as well as the release of the brachial plexus nerves and blood vessels from adhesions and removal of the scar tissue.
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Spinal cord and cauda equina nerve tumors
There are several types of spinal cord tumors:
Tumors that develop within the spinal cord, with the most common being astrocytoma and ependymoma, those that develop within the spinal canal, yet outside the spinal cord itself - meningioma, and those that develop from the nerve sheath - schwannoma .
Tumors characterized with cauda equina nerves are schwannoma, neurofibroma,
and ependymoma.
Due to the pressure caused by the tumor on the spinal cord or cauda equina nerves, symptoms such as back pain, weakness, numbness in the limbs, problems with sphincter function and difficulty in walking may occur.
Microsurgical treatment of spinal cord & cauda equina nerve tumors
During the operation, using a high magnification microscope, microsurgical tools, and electrophysiological monitoring, the aim is complete removal of the tumor, if possible while preserving the spinal cord and the nerve roots.