? Brachial Plexus surgery

[maxlew]

Hi,  I am a 45 year old female who had MINOR surgery to remove a suspicious axillary node. The Dr. never even removed the node. She apparently missed what has turned out to be a lipoma but while in there she got a little too aggressive and damaged my brachial plexus.  After surgery I lost all feeling that my right ulnar nerve would supply to my arm.  It has been 18 months and I have since had an ulnar nerve transposition due to severe pain but I never regained any feeling in my 4th &5th digits on my right hand. I have had THREE EMGs that have shown ulnar nerve damage and have had an MRI of the Brach/Plex which shows that it has somewhat of an abnormal course. It is retracted inferiorly to the right 1st and 2nd ribs. There are no lesions present on this exam (12/05/01). I have been sent to USF to see a Neurosurgeon who now states that I need decompression of the nerve in the axillary region and if no good results from that I will need Brach/Plex surgery. Now I am at a point where noone wants to clean up the mess that the other doctor caused in my axilla. My major concern is that even though I have been going to OT for 10 months my strength in my right hand is gone. I drop thingd constantly. My hand is cold as is the path from the axilla down to the hand and my fingers are clawing. My major concern is that I have been sent from Dr. to Dr. and noone seems to know what to do to help me but I am always told to take care of this ASAP since the damage in my hand is beyond repair but I need to stop further damage. I don't know where to go next.I HOPE SOMEONE HAS AN ANSWER.

[maxlew]

Does anyone know how to get on touch w/ Dr. Boulis, and what Cleveland Clinic he practices at?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Sorry to hear about all the complications. First consider assessing if the damage is too extensive beyond repair, meaning, is there any advantage to surgical intervention at this point. Consider an EMG (I realize it will be your fourth)if you haven't had one recently since your 10 months with OT at a major academic center to help assess whether the nerve is still salvageable. Then find a good surgeon who will evaluate you further.  It sounds like the neursurgeon at UCSF, (which has an outstanding neuro program) who recommended surgery was willing to intervene. If you're willing to travel, Dr. Boulis here at the Clinic is a peripheral nerve neurosurgeon who would be happy to see you. Good luck.