Brachial plexus injury
Brachial Plexus Injury
Brachial Plexus Injury (pronunciation: bray-key-al plek-sus in-jur-ee) is a type of nerve injury that occurs when the brachial plexus—a network of nerves that sends signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand—is damaged.
Etymology
The term "brachial plexus injury" is derived from the Latin "brachialis" meaning "of the arm" and the Greek "plexus" meaning "braid", referring to the complex network of nerves in the upper limb. The term "injury" is derived from the Latin "injuria" meaning "a wrong".
Types of Brachial Plexus Injury
There are four main types of brachial plexus injuries:
- Avulsion: The nerve is torn from the spine.
- Rupture: The nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment.
- Neurapraxia: The nerve has been damaged but not torn.
- Neuroma: Scar tissue has grown around the injury site, putting pressure on the injured nerve and preventing it from conducting signals to the muscles.
Causes
Brachial plexus injuries are often caused by trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries. They can also occur as a result of tumors or inflammation.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a brachial plexus injury can vary greatly depending on the severity and location of the injury, but may include:
- Numbness or weakness in the arm or hand
- Pain in the shoulder
- Paralysis of the arm or hand
- Muscle atrophy in the affected area
Treatment
Treatment for brachial plexus injuries can include physical therapy, surgery, and pain management techniques. The specific treatment plan will depend on the severity and type of injury.
Related Terms
- Nerve graft: A surgical procedure where a section of nerve is taken from another part of the body and used to repair a damaged nerve.
- Nerve transfer: A surgical procedure where a less important nerve is rerouted to restore function to a more crucial nerve that has been damaged.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Brachial plexus injury
- Wikipedia's article - Brachial plexus injury
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