Brachial Plexus Injury Treatments in Westminster Denver Colorado
Overview
●
The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals
from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury
occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious
cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.
●
Minor brachial plexus injuries, known as stingers or burners,
are common in contact sports, such as football. Babies sometimes sustain
brachial plexus injuries during birth. Other conditions, such as inflammation
or tumors, may affect the brachial plexus.
● The most severe brachial plexus injuries
usually result from automobile or motorcycle accidents. Severe brachial plexus
injuries can leave the arm paralyzed, but surgery may help restore function.
Symptoms
●
Signs and symptoms of a brachial plexus injury can vary greatly,
depending on the severity and location of the injury. Usually only one arm is
affected.
Less-severe injuries
●
Minor damage often occurs during contact sports, such as
football or wrestling, when the brachial plexus nerves get stretched or
compressed. These are called stingers or burners, and can produce the following
symptoms:
–
A feeling like an electric shock or a burning sensation shooting
down the arm
–
Numbness and weakness in the arm
● These symptoms usually last only a few seconds
or minutes, but in some people the symptoms may linger for days or longer.
More-severe injuries
●
More-severe symptoms result from injuries that seriously hurt or
even tear or rupture the nerves. The most serious brachial plexus injury occurs
when the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord.
●
Signs and symptoms of more-severe injuries can include:
–
Weakness or inability to use certain muscles in the hand, arm or
shoulder
–
Complete lack of movement and feeling in the arm, including the
shoulder and hand
–
Severe pain
When to see a doctor
Brachial plexus injuries can cause permanent weakness or
disability. Even if yours seems minor, you may need medical care. See your
health care provider if you have:
● Recurrent burners and stingers
● Weakness in the hand or arm
● Neck pain
● Symptoms in both arms
Causes
●
Damage to the upper nerves that make up the brachial plexus
tends to occur when the shoulder is forced down while the neck stretches up and
away from the injured shoulder. The lower nerves are more likely to be injured
when the arm is forced above the head.
●
These injuries can occur in several ways, including:
–
Contact sports. Many football players experience burners or
stingers, which can occur when the nerves in the brachial plexus get stretched
beyond their limit during collisions with other players.
–
Difficult births. Newborns can sustain brachial plexus injuries.
These may be associated with high birth weight, breech presentation or
prolonged labor. If an infant’s shoulders get wedged within the birth canal,
there is an increased risk of a brachial plexus palsy. Most often, the upper
nerves are injured, a condition called Erb’s palsy.
–
Trauma. Several types of trauma — including motor vehicle
accidents, motorcycle accidents, falls or bullet wounds — can result in
brachial plexus injuries.
–
Tumors and cancer treatments. Radiation treatment to the chest
or neck may cause tumors to grow in or along the brachial plexus, or put
pressure on the brachial plexus or spread to the nerves. Radiation treatment to
the chest may cause damage to the brachial plexus.
Risk
factors
Participating in contact sports, particularly
football and wrestling, or being involved in high-speed motor-vehicle accidents
increases the risk of brachial plexus injury.
Complications
Given enough time, many brachial plexus
injuries in both children and adults heal with little if any lasting damage.
But some injuries can cause temporary or permanent problems, such as:
● Stiff joints. If you experience paralysis of
the hand or arm, the joints can stiffen. This can make movement difficult, even
if you eventually regain use of the limb. For that reason, your provider is
likely to recommend ongoing physical therapy during your recovery.
● Pain. This results from nerve damage and may
become chronic.
● Numbness. If you lose feeling in the arm or
hand, you run the risk of burning or injuring yourself without knowing it.
● Muscle atrophy. Nerves regrow slowly and can
take several years to heal after injury. During that time, lack of use may
cause the affected muscles to break down.
● Permanent disability. How well you recover
from a serious brachial plexus injury depends on a number of factors, including
your age and the type, location and severity of the injury. Even with surgery,
some people experience permanent muscle weakness or paralysis.
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. Avoid burns or cuts, as you may not feel them if
you’re experiencing numbness.
If you’re an athlete who has experienced injuries to the brachial plexus area,
your provider may suggest you wear specific padding to protect the area during
sports.
● For your child. If you’re the parent of a
child with a brachial plexus palsy, it’s important that you exercise your
child’s joints and functioning muscles every day, beginning when your baby is
just a few weeks old. This helps prevent the joints from becoming permanently
stiff and keeps your child’s working muscles strong and healthy.
Diagnosis
To diagnose your condition, your provider will
review your symptoms and conduct a physical examination. To help diagnose the
extent and severity of a brachial plexus injury, you may have one or more of
the following tests:
● X-ray. An X-ray of the shoulder and neck can tell
the provider if you have fractures or other associated injuries.
● Electromyography (EMG). During an EMG, your
provider inserts a needle electrode through the skin into various muscles. The
test evaluates the electrical activity of the muscles when they contract and
when they’re at rest. You may feel a little pain when the electrodes are
inserted, but most people can complete the test without much discomfort.
● Nerve conduction studies. These tests are
usually performed as part of the EMG, and they measure the speed of conduction
in the nerve when a small current passes through the nerve. This provides
information about how well the nerve is functioning.
● Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test
uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed views of the
body in multiple planes. It often can show the extent of the damage caused by a
brachial plexus injury and can help assess the status of arteries that are
important for the limb or for its reconstruction. New methods of
high-resolution MRI, known as magnetic resonance neurography, may be used.
● Computerized tomography (CT) myelography.
Computerized tomography uses a series of X-rays to obtain cross-sectional
images of the body. CT myelography adds a contrast material, injected during a
spinal tap, to produce a detailed picture of the spinal cord and nerve roots
during a CT scan. This test is sometimes performed when MRIs don’t provide adequate
information.
Treatment
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.
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