|
The Brachial Plexus is a network of nerves formed by
fibers located between the shoulder and neck. Ninty percent of these injuries
in children are caused by a traumatic stretching of the plexus during birth.
There are 3 types of Brachial Plexus injuries:
1. Stretch - which vary in degrees of
intensity, however nerves in plexus are often compressed due to swelling or
bruising from birth trauma of shoulder getting caught on the pelvic bone.
Stretch injuries will spontaneously recover in 1-2 years of age with 90-100%
return of function. neuroma which is scar tissue that compresses the nerves may
occur also and surgical intervention is needed to remove it.
2. Rupture - nerves are torn at either one or
several places in the plexus requiring surgery for the nerves to recover.
3. Avulsion (most severe injury) - nerves are
pulled from the spinal cord as evidenced by a totally flaccid extremity, which
requires surgery and possibly muscle transfer to gain function. Horner's
syndrome may be present if this is involved.
|