Brachial plexus injuries
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Brachial Plexus Injuries (pronounced: bray-key-al plek-sus in-juh-reez) are injuries that occur when the brachial plexus - a network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm, and hand - is damaged.
Etymology
The term "brachial plexus" originates from the Greek words "brachion" meaning arm and "plexus" referring to a network. The term "injury" comes from the Latin word "injuria" meaning a wrong.
Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries
Brachial plexus injuries can be classified into several types:
- Neurapraxia: This is the least severe form of brachial plexus injury. The nerve is shocked but not torn.
- Rupture: This is a more severe injury where the nerve is torn but not at the spinal cord.
- Avulsion: This is the most severe type of brachial plexus injury where the nerve is torn from the spinal cord.
Causes
Brachial plexus injuries can be caused by a variety of factors including:
- Trauma: Such as a car or motorcycle accident.
- Birth injuries: These can occur when there's difficulty delivering a baby's shoulder, known as shoulder dystocia.
- Tumors: Tumors in the upper part of the lung can damage the brachial plexus.
- Inflammation: Certain inflammatory conditions can cause brachial plexus injuries.
Treatment
Treatment for brachial plexus injuries can include:
- Physical therapy: This can help maintain muscle flexibility and strength.
- Surgery: This can include nerve grafts, nerve transfers or muscle transfers.
Related Terms
- Nerve graft: A surgical method of repairing a damaged nerve by replacing it with nerves from another part of the body.
- Nerve transfer: A surgical technique where a less important nerve is rerouted to a more vital nerve to restore function.
- Muscle transfer: A surgical procedure where a muscle is moved from one part of the body to another.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Brachial plexus injuries
- Wikipedia's article - Brachial plexus injuries
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