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Brachial Plexus Injury

Epidemiology
1. Uncommon injury
2. Often requires serious trauma (Motorcycle accidents)
Signs
1. Arm completely paralyzed and anesthetic
2. Horner's Syndrome implies poor prognosis
Management
1. Conservative Management for 3 weeks
  1. Maintain shoulder and arm range of motion
2. Myelography and Electromyography evaluation
  1. Normal Electromyogram (EMG)
    1. Consider early surgery
    2. Microscopic neurolysis and nerve repair
  2. Traction Meningoceles or dye pockets
    1. Indicates nerve roots avulsed from cord
    2. Suggests complete, non-reparable and poor prognosis
    3. Consider amputation above elbow 1 year after injury

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.