Brachial Plexus Injury – Symptoms and Treatment
Houston Plastic and craniofacial Surgery
Brachial plexus injury occurs when a network of nerves originating in the neck and branching off from the spine to the shoulders, forearm and hand, is damaged. Typically, this is a painful condition that affects the direct functioning, feeling and growth of the upper arm, and negatively impacts normal function. The injury occurs when the brachial plexus nerves are compressed, stretched or cut. The compression of brachial plexus nerves may happen due to inflammation or a tumor pressing on the nerve. The severity of the injury would depend on the extent of the nerve damage. Brachial plexus injuries can be caused during contact sports such as football as well as auto or motorcycle accidents or falls. In babies, the injury may occur when there is difficulty in delivering the shoulder during birth.
Symptoms The signs and symptoms of brachial plexus injury would differ depending on the type, severity and the location of the injury. Here are symptoms that call for attention
Weakness or inability to use certain muscles in your hand, arm or shoulder
Swelling in the arms
Joint stiffness
Lack of sensation
Pain
Treatment The plastic surgeon will first evaluate the patient to determine the type and severity of the injury so as to know whether there is potential for spontaneous recovery. The evaluation will involve history taking and clinical analysis, and electrodiagnositc and imaging studies to determine the exact nature of the injury. Based on this, an appropriate treatment option plan is developed. If it is found that the nerve injury cannot heal on its own, a suitable surgical option will be suggested to restore the function and growth of the affected limb. Surgical procedures for treating brachial plexus injury include
Nerve Transfer – When a nerve root has been torn apart from the spine, the plastic surgeons often select a less important nerve attached to the spinal cord and fix it or hook it in to the nerve that is not attached.
Nerve Graft – The damaged nerve is removed and replaced with sections of nerves cut from other parts of body.
Muscle Transfer – A less important muscle from another area is removed and transferred to the arm.
Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is a vital part of the treatment and recommended to maintain muscle strength.
Erb’s palsy treatment is the treatment for children born with brachial plexus injuries. As there are different unique treatment options for brachial plexus injury, make sure that you consult a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon for proper management and treatment of the condition. About The Author Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, the office of Dr. Sean Boutros, is dedicated to understand all your concerns and responding with the best treatment options. Our plastic surgeons are renowned for their expertise in brachial plexus, rhinoplasty, DIEP flap breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, microtia/ear reconstruction, and more. To know more about treatment regarding brachial plexus injury in Houston, please visit www.drseanboutros.com.