Brachial plexus injury

The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves running from the neck to the arm and hand. These nerves send signals between your spinal cord, arms, shoulders, and hands, enabling you to move them. The brachial plexus can be injured in several ways, including through trauma, tumors, inflammation, or excessive stretching. These injuries can result in pain, weakness, numbness, or loss of movement or sensation in the affected area. While milder injuries may heal without treatment, severe injuries may require surgery to repair.

Brachial plexus injuries can be mild or serious depending on the severity of the impact and the amount of damage done to the nerves. These injuries are categorized by where and how badly the nerves are damaged. The types of brachial plexus injuries include: 

• Stretch (Neuropraxia): A type of brachial plexus injury where nerves are mildly stretched, leading to damage to their protective covering. The damage may disrupt nerve signals but can often heal on its own or with nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy. 
• Rupture: A more forceful stretch that causes partial or complete tearing of the brachial plexus injury. This type of brachial plexus injury typically requires surgery to repair. 
• Avulsion: The most severe type of brachial plexus injury in which the nerve root tears away from the spinal cord. Surgery is typically required to repair this type of injury and restore function. 

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury vary depending on how severe the injury is and where it’s located. Less severe injuries, often seen in contact sports, cause brief instances of electric shock sensations or arm weakness. More severe injuries can lead to weakness, paralysis, or loss of movement or feeling in the affected arm, along with severe pain. Common symptoms include: 

• Burning, stinging, or sudden severe pain in the shoulder or arm 
• Difficulty moving or controlling the shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand 
• Numbness or loss of feeling in the hand or arm 

Brachial plexus injuries can occur due to various factors, including: 

• Birth injuries: Nerve injury can result if an infant’s shoulders or neck are compressed or stretched. When this injury occurs during childbirth, typically when the baby is in a breech position, it may be referred to as neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). 
• Forceful trauma: Injuries happen when the shoulder is pushed down while the neck is pulled up or when the arm is forced suddenly above the head. This typically occurs during car accidents, falls, or collisions during contact sports. 
• Inflammation: Inflammatory responses triggered by infections, injuries, or autoimmune reactions can affect the brachial plexus. When the brachial plexus injury is caused by inflammation, it may develop into Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, a rare condition that causes pain in the shoulder or upper arm and leads to muscle weakness. 
• Tumors: Tumors that grow in or around the brachial plexus can put pressure on the nerves, causing damage. Common cancers that may affect the brachial plexus include breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinomas.