In some cases, chronic intrathecal baclofen therapy can be accompanied by various complications. This technique should be carefully used in patients from high-risk groups.

Relevance The brachial plexus is a complex anatomical structure the passes through three narrow anatomical spaces including the interscalene space, the space between the first rib and the clavicle (thoracic aperture), the space between the anterior chest wall and the pectoralis minor muscle. Compression of the brachial plexus and the vascular band can occur at the sites. Endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus is a promising surgical trend to allow neurolysis and decompression of the plexus with minimal trauma and blood loss and a good cosmetic result. The purpose was to explore topographic anatomy of the brachial plexus and surrounding structures and determine the possibility of endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus. Material and methods The shoulder and neck were dissected in 5 fresh cadavers. The study was performed at Trauma and Orthopaedics department of the Russian Peoples Friendship University and Department of pathological anatomy at the Buyanov’s Moscow State City Hospital between 2021 and 2022. Results The pectoralis minor muscle was detached from the coracoid process to endoscopically approach to the subclavian part of plexus. The lateral aspect of the subclavian muscle was detached from the clavicle to endoscopically approach to the thoracic aperture. Portals were produced at the supraclavicular fossa to endoscopically approach to the supraclavicular part of the plexus in the interscalene space considering the topographic anatomy of the jugularis external vein and accessory veins. The mean distance from the coracoid tip to the penetration point of the musculo-cutaneous nerve to the conjoint tendon was 3 cm. The mean distance between the anterior chest wall and the clavicle (width of thoracic aperture) was 1.86 cm. The mean distance between the sternal end of the clavicle to the point of passage of the subclavian artery under the clavicle was 5.7 cm. The mean width of the interscalene space was 1.4 cm. Discussion Aspects of topographic anatomy of the brachial plexus were examined in cadaveric studies of Sidorovich R.R. (2011), Chembrovich V.V. (2019), Anokhina Z.A. (2021), but endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus and possibility with endoscopic surgery were not discussed in the studies. Foreign cadaveric studies of Akaslan I. (2021), Koyyalamudi V. (2021), Costabeber I. (2010), Akboru (2010) were performed to examine topographic anatomy of the brachial plexus. The only study reporting the possibility of endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus and endoscopic anatomy was performed by Lafosse T. (2015). Our cadaveric series reported the possibility of endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus at the three levels for the first time in Russian literature. Conclusion Topographic anatomy of the supraclavicular and infraclavicular portions of the brachial plexus was examined in our series. The study showed the possibility of endoscopic approach to the brachial plexus at the interscalene space, thoracic aperture and subclavian area.

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexus injury (plexopathy) is a fairly common problem in neurology, neurosurgery, traumatology and orthopedics. Compression of the brachial plexus usually develops in a narrow anatomical space: in the area of the small pectoral muscle, thoracic aperture, interspinous space. In several cases there is a combination of plexopathy and shoulder joint pathology. In a failure of conservative treatment, surgical intervention such as revision and decompression of the brachial plexus can be used. The development of endoscopic methods of decompression allows the minimization of soft tissue trauma, reduces the risk of complications, and accelerates and facilitates the recovery period. CLINICAL CASE DESCRIPTION: Our aim was to describe a clinical case and monitor the results of combined endoscopic intervention in a patient with the "terrible triad": endoscopic decompression of the brachial plexus in the thoracic aperture and interlumbar space and arthroscopy of the shoulder joint with subacromial spacer placement at 6 months after surgery. Patient M., aged 64 years, with the consequences of right shoulder joint trauma: dislocation of the humeral head, damage of the shoulder rotator cuff and development of posttraumatic plexopathy of the right brachial plexus. The patient underwent repeated courses of conservative treatment without any pronounced effect for 1 year after injury. To confirm the diagnosis, the patient underwent electroneuromyography and ultrasound examination of the brachial plexus on the right side and magnetic resonance imaging of the right shoulder joint. After the examination, the patient underwent combined endoscopic intervention: arthroscopy of the shoulder joint with subacromial spacer placement and endoscopic decompression of the brachial plexus in the thoracic aperture and interlumbar space. According to the visual analogue scale (VAS) the intensity of pain syndrome before surgery was 7 cm, 6 months after surgery the intensity of pain decreased to 1 cm according to VAS. According to the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand scale (DASH), the degree of upper extremity dysfunction before surgery was 48 points; 6 months after surgery, it decreased to 16 points. The British Medical Research Council scale (BMRC) rated the degree of motor impairment at 3 preoperatively and 0 postoperatively. The degree of sensory impairment according to the Seddon Nerve Damage Rating Scale was 2 preoperatively and 3+ postoperatively. Range of motion in the shoulder joint before surgery: flexion 110, abduction 95, external rotation 15. Six months after surgery: flexion 165, abduction 165, external rotation 45. CONCLUSION: The findings allow us to characterize the technique of one-stage arthroscopy of the shoulder joint and endoscopic decompression of the brachial plexus in the thoracic aperture and interlumbar space as low-traumatic and effective, creating conditions for restoration of the shoulder joint and upper extremity function as well as elimination of pain syndrome in the upper extremity.

INTRODUCTION Posttraumatic axillary nerve neuropathy is a widely spread pathology, more often seen after shoulder joint trauma. It can also occur as a complication after orthopaedic surgeries, for example, after Latarjet procedure for shoulder stabilization. The technique of open axillary nerve decompression is very popular but has a number of disadvantages: large trauma of soft tissue, severe bleeding, high rate of complications, poor cosmetic effect. Endoscopic surgical technique of decompression is an effective, less traumatic alternative to open procedures.AIM To improve the outcomes of treatment of patients with axillary nerve neuropathy.MATERIAL AND METHODS We present the outcomes of endoscopic transcapsular axillary nerve decompression in 5 patients with a clinical picture of neuropathic pain syndrome, hypoesthesia in the deltoid area, hypotrophy of the deltoid muscle, who were operated from 2018 to 2021. The mean age of the patients was 44.4±14.9. An original surgical technique of decompression, which included arthroscopy of the shoulder joint with diagnostic and treatment components and transcapsular endoscopic axillary nerve decompression in the beach-chair position, was developed and applied to all the patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the MannWhitney U test.RESULTS According to VAS-scale, the severity of pain syndrome before the surgery was 6±4.6 points, 6 months after surgery it decreased to 1.4±0.5 points (p<0.05). According to DASH scale, the function of the of shoulder joint before surgery was 77,6±6,9 points, 6 months after surgery it increased to 12±5,2 points (p<0.05). According to BMRC scale (M0–M5), strength of the deltoid muscle before surgery was 2±0,4 points, after surgery it increased to 4,4±0,5 points (p<0.05). Range of motion in the shoulder joint before surgery was as follows: flexion 107±45,6°, extension 102±49°, external rotation 22±13,6°; 6 months after surgery: flexion 154±25,6°, extension 156±22,4°, external rotation 50±8° (p<0,05). The thickness of the middle portion of the deltoid muscle according to ultrasound examination before the surgery was 7.2±1.04 mm, after surgery 11.8±1.44 mm (p<0.05). All the patients (100%) during long follow-up noticed complete relief of pain and regression of neurological symptoms.CONCLUSION The achieved results allow us to characterize the method of endoscopic transcapsular decompression as a reproducible, minimally invasive and highly effective technique providing pain relief to patients, curing neurological and intraarticular pathology, thus promoting early restoration of the upper limb function in the treated group of patients.

The objective is to describe the case of successful endovascular treatment of residual chronic subdural hematoma.Clinical case. Patient A., 77 years old, was admitted to the hospital with a directional diagnosis of stroke. During further examination, left hemispheric chronic subdural hematoma with a volume of 100 cm3 was revealed. The patient was twice performed closed external drainage of hematoma. And for each subsequent control computed tomography studies, a residual hematoma with a volume effect on the brain was determined. Endovascular selective embolization of the left middle meningеal artery was performed. During the examination after 5 months, a complete reduction of hematoma, cerebral and focal neurological symptoms was noted.Conclusion. Endovascular embolization of the middle meningeal artery may be a pathogenetically substantiated, minimally invasive alternative to repeated surgical interventions for residual and recurrent chronic subdural hematoma. It will be reasonable to continue research to assess the effectiveness and safety of the methodology.