Microsurgical anatomy and approach of reimplanting avulsed brachial plexus ventral roots into the spinal cord

Objective To study the approach of reimplanting avulsed brachial plexus ventral roots into the spinal cord Methods Fifteen cervicothoracic spine speciments were used to measure and observe the anatomy of brachial plexus roots and ventral roots, and the relationship of vertibral artery, vertebrae and spinal cord, and the relative position between spinal cord segment and vertebral discs Another four speciments were used to reimplant the brachial plexus ventral roots by the lateroventral approach Results From up to down, the length of brachial plexus roots and spinal cord segments, and the radius of spinal cord, and the number of ventral rootlets, and the distence from ventral root exit zones to midline became small, but the length of ventral roots, and the radius of vertebrae and the distence from vertebal artery to midline became big C 5～7 spinal cord segments faced C 3～4 ,C 4～5 ,C 5～6 vertebral discs, and C 8,T 1 spinal cord segments faced C 6,C 7 vertebrae Conclusions The brachial plexus ventral roots could be reimplanted into the best position by the lateroventral approach