Brachial Plexus Injury Related To Carrying A Rucksack: Two Cases Report

Brachial plexus injuries are often associated with penetrated trauma and isolated brachial plexus injuries are rarely seen. Since it has a complex anatomical structure including cervical nerve roots, truncus and fascicule, the injury can be more complicated rather than just peripheral nerve damage. Two patients were presented in this paper, both of whom are 21 year-old soldiers, applied with the complaints of numbness and paralyze in their left upper extremity which occurred after carrying 40 kg rucksack for 10 hours (first patient) and for 8 hours (second patient). In the electromyography (EMG), brachial plexus upper and middle truncus injury was determined. Following the application of active and passive physical rehabilitation to the cases, the first patient clinically recovered after 6 months and the second patient after 4 months. This paper aims to emphasize that rarely observed isolated brachial plexus injury may result from carrying a seemingly innocent rucksack commonly used by many people and that early physical rehabilitation can lead to positive outcomes for patients.