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What Are Brachial Plexus Injuries in Adults?

September 23, 2019 chreindev

It’s possible that you could have a brachial plexus injury without even knowing that you have a brachial plexus in the first place. So, what is the brachial plexus? It’s a network of nerves that controls the movement and sensation in your hand and arm. To be more specific, signals are sent from your spinal cord to your arm, shoulder, and hand from the brachial plexus.

Brachial plexus injuries occur when those nerves become stretched, compressed, or ripped away from the spinal cord. This damage is often sudden, occurring from an accident or other traumatic event when the arm is forcibly pulled or stretched.

Minor brachial plexus injuries may heal without treatment being necessary. These injuries are also known as stingers or burners and often occur in contact sports like football. Babies can also sustain brachial plexus injuries during birth due to medical negligence. Conditions such as inflammation or a tumor can also impact the brachial plexus.

In more severe cases, surgery may be required in order to regain function of the arm or hand. Thesevere cases in adults are often the result of automobile or motorcycle accidents and can leave the arm paralyzed with a loss of function and sensation. Other causes can include falls, and knife or gunshot wounds.

If you suffer from recurrent burners and stingers, weakness in your arm or hand, neck pain, or symptoms in both of your arms, you should seek medical care. Complications of brachial plexus injuries include stiff joints, pain and numbness, muscle atrophy, and even permanent disability. Brachial plexus injuries can be diagnosed in several ways including an EMG, MRI, CT scan, or a nerve conduction study.

Some individuals may have suffered a brachial plexus injury but were misdiagnosed. Doctors may have failed to diagnose the injury or provide the necessary tests to diagnose it. Medical departments that treat brachial plexus injuries include neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.

Medical errors or misdiagnoses are unfortunately all too common when it comes to diagnosing and treating brachial plexus injuries. If you’re concerned about a possible misdiagnosis or medical error, be sure to contact the law firm of Pegalis Law Group, LLC. We’ve been advocating for people of all ages for almost 50 years, and our goal is to help our clients financially while making healthcare safer for everyone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today by calling (516) 726-1549.

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