Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion…

Cohort studyNeurosurgery practice· Aug 2026

Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: Sagittal Alignment and Deformity Outcomes.

Stephen M Bergin, Joshua Woo, Mohamed Alwadai … Muhammad M Abd-El-Barr

Peripheral NerveCohort studyClinical practiceQ3IF 0.8

New or progressive kyphosis developed in 5 of 12 patients without fusion.

Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: Sagittal Alignment and Deformity Outcomes.

Stephen M Bergin … Muhammad M Abd-El-Barr

Neurosurgery practice · Aug 2026 · Q3 in Surgery

Background

Dorsal root entry zone (dorsal root entry zone) lesioning is an established treatment of refractory deafferentation pain after brachial plexus avulsion.

Methods

Were grouped by concurrent posterior fusion vs nonfusion dorsal root entry zone.

n = 15 patients

5

Results

5

of 12

nearly half of patients without fusion developed new or worsening spinal curvature

n = 15 patients

More results

Paired standing radiographs were available in 7 of 8 fusion patients and 3 of 15 nonfusion patients.

In the fusion cohort, mean C2-C7 Cobb improved from 2.5° ± 23.1° to 18.3° ± 20.8°, whereas cervical sagittal vertical axis remained stable.

More results

All fusion patients maintained postoperative cervical sagittal vertical axis ≤40 mm, and 7 of 8 maintained T1 slope minus cervical lordosis ≤20°.

No fusion patient developed new or progressive postoperative kyphosis.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Concurrent posterior fusion during cervicothoracic dorsal root entry zone lesioning was associated with preserved sagittal alignment and absence of new progressive postoperative kyphosis.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Fusion should be considered when dorsal root entry zone requires extensive multilevel exposure, particularly across the cervicothoracic junction.

Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: Sagittal Alignment and Deformity Outcomes.

Posterior Cervicothoracic Fusion During Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Avulsion: Sagittal Alignment and Deformity Outcomes.

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