Objective: To analyze the recently reported technical innovations in the reconstruction surgery of brachial plexus injuries.

Patients and methods: A total of 89 articles were analyzed, of which 50 were selected to perform this work. Priority was given to those studies describing technical innovations or large series that include the results of such techniques. The period analyzed was from January 1993 to June 2006. 

Results: Numerous neurometric techniques of the plexus terminal branches have been developed in the last decade, including the use of spinal accessory, phrenic, ulnar, intercostal, C3-C4 cervical roots, contralateral C7 root and hypoglossal nerve. 

Conclusions: Neurotization of the suprascapular and musculocutaneous nerves with the accessory spinal, phrenic and intercostal nerves show good results. In case of incomplete injury, the neuromuscularisation technique of the musculocutaneous with the ulnar (Oberlin) should also be considered. Unlike what happens at the facial level, the hypoglossal is not useful for neurotizing the brachial plexus.

Key words: Brachial plexus lesion, phrenic nerve, intercostal nerves, neuropathy.