Brachial plexus lesions

Abstract

PLEXUS is an expert system which has been designed to advise physicians on the complex subject of brachial plexus injuries. Patient history information and results of neurological, neurophysiological and neuroradiological examinations are entered into the computer by the physician. Computer output consists of the localization of the injury, indication of the severity of the injury, and a treatment plan. PLEXUS was validated in cooperation with four international experts and was tested clinically in four hospitals. The independent validation showed that PLEXUS has a good performance. Features which must be improved include the extension of the functionality of the system to facilitate a more direct communication, and enhancement of the system's ability to assist in data gathering and entry. This study highlights the importance of thorough validation for the development of these kinds of systems.