Extending from the spinal cord within the neck through the armpit, the brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control the muscles of the shoulder, arm and hand. Brachial plexus injury occurs when any of these nerves is injured, usually during birth. In adults, the injury can be caused by auto accidents. Brachial plexus treatment helps to reduce pain and restore the normal functioning of the arms, hands and shoulder. If the condition is left untreated, the muscles associated with the damaged nerves will waste away and becomes dysfunctional permanently.
The most common symptoms of this nerve injury are:
* Severe pain * Loss of sensation * Muscle weakness * Numbness and paralysis in the arm * Neck pain * Lack of sensation
Non-surgical Treatment
If the injury is minor, then only physical therapy would be required. Mild injuries sometimes heal without any treatment. Children affected by the injury from the time they are born usually recover by the time are three or four months old. If the condition is complex and the baby does not recover, surgical treatment may be necessary.
Surgical Treatment
If the nerve injury does not heal on its own, surgical intervention may be necessary to restore the function of the arm. Plastic surgeons offer the following options: * Nerve Graft - In this procedure, the arm’s function is restored by removing the damaged part of the nerve to reduce reinnervation time. The injured nerves are replaced with sections of nerves cut from other parts of the body to bridge the defective gap between two ends of the damaged nerve.
* Nerve Transfer - When the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord, the surgeon may take the less important nerve which is still attached to the spinal cord and attach it to the nerve which is not attached to the spinal cord. In some cases, in order to speed up the recovery process, this technique is performed at a level close to the target muscle instead of doing a nerve graft far from the muscle. Sometimes a procedure that combines nerve graft and transfer is carried out for better resolution of the nerve injuries.
* Muscle Transfer – In this procedure, a less important tendon or muscle along with its nerve and blood supply is removed from another part of the body and transferred to the damaged part. This can help restore the function in the elbow, wrist and hand. This method becomes necessary when the arm muscles become weak.
Depending on the type and severity of brachial plexus treatment, most patients are able to recover in course of time with specialized therapy. Only a surgeon with proper training and sufficient experience can ensure optimal results. Having the surgery in an established AAAASF accredited plastic surgery center is critical for safe procedures and proper care.
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