The purpose of this article is to present the degree of recovery according to causes, level of injuries and other associated factors of brachial plexus injury. One hundred and forty five cases from 1989 to 1994 were reviewed. The injury was classified as supraclavicular and infraclavicular lesion according to Leffert's definition in addition to root, trunk, division and cord level.

Supraclavicular injuries were 77.9%, infraclavicular injuries, 15.2% and double level, 6.9%. The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accident. The causes of injury were significantly different in relation to the above and below the clavicle. The level of the brachial plexus injuries caused by pedestrian and motorcycle accidents and contusion by falling objects was only supraclavicular. Cervical root avulsion injuries were related to obstetric delivery, contusion, and motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents. The satisfactory recovery occurred in most of the infraclavicular lesions. The degree of recovery according to the level of cervical root and brachial root was different. Cervical root injury was much worse than brachial root injury. The accompanied fractures had no adverse effect to the degree of recovery.

We conclude that the most valuable predictive factors of prognosis are the cause of injury and the evel of injury ass supra- or infraclavicular.