MR NEUROGRAPHY AND BRACHIAL PLEXUS IN TRAUMA

Abstract

Evaluation of the peripheral nervous system and its various pathologies previously was dependant on clinical examination and electrodiagnostic tests. But, electrodiagnostic studies are often time-consuming and provide indeterminate results. These tests can even at times be unfeasible in patients with skin diseases and in cases where deeply situated inaccessible nerves are involved. Imaging of peripheral nerves was considered difcult as only the supercial nerves could be imaged by ultrasound. With the advent of 3T MRI, things began to change. MR Neurography is not operator-dependent unlike ultrasound which is operator dependant. It helps in better depiction of soft tissue abnormalities, subtle signal changes, and offers better visualization of a nerve abnormality as well as any abnormalities in the surrounding tissues. Also, the secondary muscle denervation changes are better seen on MR Neurography examinations. In this study we aim to understand the various imaging patterns of injuries involving the peripheral nerves and brachial plexus in trauma.