A brachial plexus injury happens when the network of nerves that controls the arm and hand gets damaged. These nerves, located in the shoulder area, send signals from the spinal cord to the arm and hand, helping them move and feel. When these nerves are injured, it can cause problems with arm and hand movement and sensation.
The injury can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident, sports injury, or during childbirth if the baby's shoulder gets stuck. Depending on the severity, the injury might be mild, where you only experience some numbness or weakness, or it could be severe, leading to paralysis or a lack of feeling in the arm.
Symptoms of a brachial plexus injury include weakness or paralysis in the arm, difficulty moving the arm, and changes in how the arm feels, like numbness or tingling. Treatment may vary depending on the severity of the injury and can include physical therapy to enhance movement and strength. In some instances, surgery might be necessary to repair damaged nerves.
Symptoms can depend on the severity and specific nerves affected, but they may include:
Note: Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe disability.
Causes of Brachial Plexus Injury:
Each cause can vary in severity, affecting the degree of nerve damage and resulting symptoms.
Seek medical attention if you experience:
To diagnose a brachial plexus injury, doctors may use:
Do's:
Don'ts:
NOTE:
Our team of medical content authors has carefully collected and analyzed information on this topic to provide valuable insights to our readers. Utilizing a variety of reputable medical journals and health resources, this content aims to improve understanding of the subject. Please keep in mind that while this information is informative, it should not substitute for personalized consultation or treatment from a qualified physician. For more details, please refer to our Editorial Policy.
For this topic, our authors used some of the following resources:
Johns Hopkins Medicine | Brachial Plexus Injury
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov) | Anatomy, Head and Neck: Brachial Plexus
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons | Brachial Plexus Injuries - OrthoInfo - AAOS
MedlinePlus (.gov) | Brachial plexus injury in newborns
ScienceDirect.com | Brachial Plexus - an overview
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