TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of the Root Analysis Score for C5 Viability in Patients With Pan–Brachial Plexus Injury
AU - Wu, Kitty Y.
AU - Lee, Ellen Y.
AU - Loosbrock, Michelle F.
AU - Bishop, Allen T.
AU - Spinner, Robert
AU - Shin, Alexander Y.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American Society for Surgery of the Hand
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Purpose: Pan–brachial plexus injury patients present a reconstructive challenge. The root analysis score, developed from parsimonious multivariable modeling of 311 pan–brachial plexus injury patients, determines the probability of having a viable C5 nerve based on four categories: positive C5 Tinel test, intact C5 nerve on computed tomography myelogram, lack of hemidiaphragmatic elevation, and absence of midcervical paraspinal fibrillations. Methods: Root analysis scores were calculated for a separate cohort of patients with pan–brachial plexus injuries. Scores were validated by the presence or absence of a graftable C5 root, based on supraclavicular exploration and intraoperative electrophysiologic testing. Receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, and concordance statistic of the scores were calculated. Patients were divided into three root analysis score cohorts: less than 50 (low), 50–75 (average), and 75–100 points (high) based on dividing the score into quartiles and combining the lowest two. The probability, sensitivity, and specificity of each cohort having an available C5 nerve were based on the intraoperative assessment. Results: Eighty patients (mean age, 33.1 years; 15 women and 65 men) were included. Thirty-one patients (39%) had a viable C5 nerve. The root analysis calculator had an overall accuracy of 82.5%, a receiver operating characteristic of 0.87, and a concordance statistic of 0.87, demonstrating high overall predictive value; 6.5% of patients with a score of less than 50 (94% sensitivity and 43% specificity), 16.1% of patients with a score of 50–75 (94% sensitivity and 67% specificity), and 77.4% of patients with a score of 75–100 (77% sensitivity and 90% specificity) had a graftable C5 nerve. Conclusions: The root analysis score demonstrated high accuracy and predictive power for a viable C5 nerve. In patients with a score of less than 50, the necessity of supraclavicular root exploration should balance patient factors, presentation timing, and concomitant injuries. Type of study/level of evidence: Diagnosis II.
AB - Purpose: Pan–brachial plexus injury patients present a reconstructive challenge. The root analysis score, developed from parsimonious multivariable modeling of 311 pan–brachial plexus injury patients, determines the probability of having a viable C5 nerve based on four categories: positive C5 Tinel test, intact C5 nerve on computed tomography myelogram, lack of hemidiaphragmatic elevation, and absence of midcervical paraspinal fibrillations. Methods: Root analysis scores were calculated for a separate cohort of patients with pan–brachial plexus injuries. Scores were validated by the presence or absence of a graftable C5 root, based on supraclavicular exploration and intraoperative electrophysiologic testing. Receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, and concordance statistic of the scores were calculated. Patients were divided into three root analysis score cohorts: less than 50 (low), 50–75 (average), and 75–100 points (high) based on dividing the score into quartiles and combining the lowest two. The probability, sensitivity, and specificity of each cohort having an available C5 nerve were based on the intraoperative assessment. Results: Eighty patients (mean age, 33.1 years; 15 women and 65 men) were included. Thirty-one patients (39%) had a viable C5 nerve. The root analysis calculator had an overall accuracy of 82.5%, a receiver operating characteristic of 0.87, and a concordance statistic of 0.87, demonstrating high overall predictive value; 6.5% of patients with a score of less than 50 (94% sensitivity and 43% specificity), 16.1% of patients with a score of 50–75 (94% sensitivity and 67% specificity), and 77.4% of patients with a score of 75–100 (77% sensitivity and 90% specificity) had a graftable C5 nerve. Conclusions: The root analysis score demonstrated high accuracy and predictive power for a viable C5 nerve. In patients with a score of less than 50, the necessity of supraclavicular root exploration should balance patient factors, presentation timing, and concomitant injuries. Type of study/level of evidence: Diagnosis II.
KW - Avulsion
KW - brachial plexus injury
KW - cervical root grafting
KW - rupture
KW - supraclavicular exploration
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.01.013
DO - 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.01.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 38430093
AN - SCOPUS:85186622741
SN - 0363-5023
JO - Journal of Hand Surgery
JF - Journal of Hand Surgery
ER -