Bilateral Post-traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury in an Adult: A Note on the Probable Mechanism of Injury

Bilateral brachial plexus injury is rare following a motor vehicle accident in an adult. We report a 35-year-old man with a bilateral brachial plexus injury. Explaining the mechanism of such an injury is essential to prognosticate the outcome. Fall from the bike, and the position determines the mechanism. The head-shoulder hitting the surface has an avulsion injury (ipsilateral), and the recoiling effect causes traction injury to the contralateral side. Our case had a C5,6 avulsion injury on the right side (ipsilateral) and a C5,6 traction injury (contralateral) to his left side. Surgical exploration and distal nerve transfers were done on the right side. The patient improved his shoulder and elbow function of grade 3, neurolysis of the brachial plexus was done on the left side, and the recovery was complete at 12 months of follow-up.