What are Brachial Plexus 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 if they are stretched or, in serious cases, torn. This usually happens when the person’s shoulder is forcefully pressed down, while the head is pushed up and away from that shoulder.

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury usually include a limp or paralyzed arm; lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist; and a lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. In infants, brachial plexus injuries may happen during birth, if the baby’s shoulder is stretched during the passage in the birth canal.

Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries

There are three general types of brachial plexus birth injuries. If the upper group of the arm's main nerves is damaged, the result is paralysis of the upper brachial plexus, or Erb’s palsy. Klumpke’s palsy is paralysis of the lower brachial plexus. Those suffering from Klumpke’s palsy have normal use of the shoulder and elbow but weakness or paralysis in the fingers and the hand. The third kind is the Total Plexus Palsy, which involves all nerves of the brachial plexus. In those cases the entire upper extremity is affected.

Although these injuries are classified into three broad categories, each patient’s injury is typically too complex to totally fit into this classification system.

Brachial plexus injuries may be as minor as a temporary paralysis from which the patient will completely recover, or it may be so severe that the entire limb will permanently stay paralyzed. By the diagnostic tests available today, it is difficult to tell the exact nature and extent of each patient’s injury and its potential to recover. Also, the rate of recovery varies from patient to patient. So, in most cases, doctors recommend the “wait and see” doctrine. But how long should the wait be?

There are windows of opportunity for all treatments and interventions that can change the outcome of the illness. Do not miss this window. Ask for a second opinion, and contact a New York City brachial plexus injury lawyer to help you outline the best plan of action.

If you suspect that your baby has suffered brachial plexus birth injury, contact the New York City birth injury lawyers of the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm at 212-869-3500.