What is the Brachial Plexus?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves. It conducts signals from the spine to the arm and hand. These signals cause the arm and hand muscles to move. (Brachial means arm, and plexus refers to a network of nerves.) What Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries? Although injury can occur at any time, most brachial plexus injuries happen during birth. Many babies with brachial plexus injuries are larger than average at birth. However, newborns of all sizes, including premature babies, can have these injuries. About 1 or 2 babies in 1,000 suffer brachial plexus injuries at birth. About 1 in 10 of these need treatment. The possible treatments are exercise and therapy, or surgery plus therapy. Brachial Plexus Injuries There are four types of nerve injuries: An avulsion: the nerve is torn from the spine. A rupture: the nerve is torn but not where it attaches to the spine. A neuroma: the nerve has tried to heal itself, but scar tissue has grown around the injury. The scar tissue puts pressure on th
