What are brachial plexus birth injuries?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Symptoms may include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. Brachial plexus injuries happen during delivery, when the baby’s shoulders become impacted during the birth process, and traction is placed on the fetal head causing the brachial plexus nerves to stretch or tear. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries: • Avulsion – the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine; • Rupture – in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment; • Neuroma – in which the nerve has tried to heal itself but scar tissue has grown around the injury, putting pressure on the injured nerve and preventing the nerve from conducting signals to the muscles; and • Neuropraxia or Stretch – in which the nerve has been
