OBJECTIVE: To describe the importance of neurotization in the treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion injury in view of the literature.

CASE: A thirty-year-old male patient, who had suffered a traffic accident 6 months ago, was referred to our clinic because of ongoing severe pain refractory to medical treatment and weakness of the left arm. A complete brachial plexus lesion in the form of a root avulsion was diagnosed after neurological and radiological evaluation. Neuroneural neurotization was performed. The spinal accessory nerve, phrenic nerve and cervical plexus were used as donor nerves while the sural nerve was the choice as inter-graft material. In this patient with adult type brachial plexus injury, pain decreased in the early post-surgical period and there was no change in neurological examination at 6 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION: One of the greatest problems for peripheral nerve surgeons is treating functional loss due to brachial plexus injuries. It takes a long time to regain lost function after neurotization in brachial plexus root avulsion injuries. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are very important in the postoperative period. It should always be kept in mind that the acquirement of even some function is important for the patient. Keywords : Brachial plexus injuries, Root avulsion, Neurotization