Brachial Plexus

Acute

What is Brachial Plexus?

The brachial plexus passes from the neck to the axilla and supplies the upper limb. It is formed from the ventral rami of the 5th to 8th cervical nerves and the ascending part of the ventral ramus of the 1st thoracic nerve. Branches from the 4th cervical and the 2nd thoracic ventral ramus may contribute.

  • Numbness or loss of feeling in the hand or arm.
  • Inability to control or move the shoulder, arm, wrist or hand.
  • An arm that hangs limply.
  • Burning, stinging or severe and sudden pain in the shoulder or arm.
  • Numbness or loss of feeling in the hand or arm.
  • Inability to control or move the shoulder, arm, wrist or hand.
  • An arm that hangs limply.
  • Burning, stinging or severe and sudden pain in the shoulder or arm.
  • Blunt trauma: such as falls or motor vehicle accidents.
  • Athletic injuries: especially from contact sports like football.
  • Gunshot wounds: a bullet tears through or close to the nerves.

When a baby is born, and its head and shoulder get stretched apart, for whatever reason, the brachial plexus may become damaged. Risk factors include large fetus size, long and difficult labor, and breech birth position

Prevention. Although damage to the brachial plexus often can't be prevented, you can take steps to reduce the risk of complications once an injury has occurred: For yourself. If you temporarily lose the use of the hand or arm, daily range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy can help prevent joint stiffness.

How is it diagnosed?

How is it diagnosed?

Treatment depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of injury, the length of time since the injury and other existing conditions.

Nerves that have only been stretched may recover without further treatment.

Your provider may recommend physical therapy to keep the joints and muscles working properly, maintain range of motion, and prevent stiff joints.

Surgery to repair brachial plexus nerves should generally occur within six months after the injury. Surgeries that occur later than that have lower success rates.

Nerve tissue grows slowly, so it can take several years to know the full benefit of surgery. During the recovery period, you must keep your joints flexible with a program of exercises. Splints may be used to keep the hand from curling inward.

How is it treated?

Treatment for acute myeloid leukemia is vital. It varies with the patient and stage of the disease. Treatment options include

A nonessential muscle, such as the gracilis muscle of the inner thigh, is transplanted to replace a nonfunctioning muscle in the shoulder, upper arm or hand. Blood flow is restored to the transplanted muscle by connecting tiny blood vessels under a microscope.

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