PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Leonard, Samantha
AU  - Woehrle, Theo
AU  - Nikizad, Hooman
AU  - Vearrier, Jared
AU  - Odean, Marilyn
AU  - Renier, Colleen
AU  - Bollins, John
AU  - Eyer, Steven
TI  - Blunt traumatic brachial plexus injuries in a northern rural US setting: increased likelihood in unshielded motor-powered crashes
AID  - 10.1136/tsaco-2020-000558
DP  - 2020 Nov 01
TA  - Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
PG  - e000558
VI  - 5
IP  - 1
4099  - http://tsaco.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000558.short
4100  - http://tsaco.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000558.full
SO  - Trauma Surg Acute Care Open2020 Nov 01; 5
AB  - Background Blunt traumatic brachial plexus injuries (BTBPI) are severe peripheral nerve injuries which present in a small portion of trauma patients but can result in long-term neurological disability and severe chronic pain.Objective The goal of this study was to describe the epidemiology of BTBPI in a northern rural setting caused by motor-powered collisions, and to determine the relative risk of these injuries in shielded (cars, trucks, vans, and so on) and unshielded vehicles (snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles).Methods This retrospective study describes the epidemiology of BTBPI caused by motor-powered collisions and treated at two level II trauma centers in northeast Minnesota and determines the relative risk of these injuries in shielded (cars, trucks, vans, and so on) and unshielded vehicles (snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles). We hypothesized unshielded motor vehicle crashes in rural areas are at an increased risk of incurring BTBPI.Results Out of all injuries resulting from motor-powered collisions in a 20-year period (9951), BTBPIs were found in 63 trauma patients, a prevalence of 0.6%. The rate of BTBPI involving unshielded vehicles (1.0%) was significantly higher than those involving a shielded vehicle (0.4%) and primarily occurred in rural areas (70%).Conclusions Unshielded vehicle crashes, particularly snowmobiles, have the highest risk for BTBPI in our rural region. The overall incidence of these injuries appears to be declining.Level of evidence Level III.