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Brachial Plexus Injuries Synonym(s): Reviewed 04-02-2003 Get Web page suited for printing Email this to a friend or colleague Studies with patients Table of Contents (click to jump to sections) What is Brachial Plexus Injuries?Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Organizations What is Brachial Plexus Injuries? The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Symptoms may include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus injuries happen during birth: the baby’s shoulders may become impacted during the birth process causing the brachial plexus nerves to stretch or tear. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries: avulsion, the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine; rupture, in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment; neuroma, in which the nerve has tried to heal itself but scar tissue has grown around the injury, putting pressure on the injured nerve and preventing the nerve from conducting signals to the muscles; and neuropraxia or stretch, in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn. Neuropraxia is the most common type of brachial plexus injury. Is there any treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation
National Rehabilitation
Information Center (NARIC)
National Brachial Plexus/
Erb's Palsy Association, Inc.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
United Brachial Plexus Network
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
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