Treatment for Brachial Plexus Injuries

Tests such as CT scan, MRI and nerve conduction testing can help in diagnosing the brachial plexus injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, brachial plexus surgery or brachial plexus injury treatment is decided. While these types of injuries can occur at any time, most of the conditions develop during difficult deliveries. As the baby's shoulders are impacted, it causes the brachial nerve to stretch or tear.

Following are the different types of brachial plexus injuries:
Neuropraxia: although not torn, the damaged nerve is stretched outAvulsion: tearing of the nerve from the spineRupture: tearing of the nerve, but not at the spinal attachmentNeuroma: although healing of the torn nerve has taken place, scar tissues exerting pressure on the nerve prevent it from sending signals to the muscles
These kinds of injuries are at times healed without any treatment. Children suffering from these injuries since birth recover by the time they reach three or four months of age.

In case the injury is minor, you can opt for physical therapy. But for complex injuries, nerve grafts or nerve transfer is a better option. Consultation with a medical professional at the earliest is advisable in case the child shows symptoms of birth injury.

Following are the procedures of reconstructive surgery for brachial plexus:
Nerve graft: the procedure involves the removal of the damaged part of the brachial plexus and replacing it with sections of nerve taken from other body parts.
Nerve transfer: in cases where the nerve root has been torn from the spinal cord, the less important nerve still attached to the spinal cord is taken by the surgeons and fixed or hooked on to the torn nerve.
Muscle transfer: removal of a less important muscle from another part of the body and transfer to the patient's arm takes place in this type of brachial plexus surgery. Complete relief can be achieved through this brachial plexus injury repair treatment.

Stretched nerves have a fair chance of self recovery. For improving the function of the nerves the healing process requires the scar tissues to be removed surgically. Nerves having a significant surrounding of scar tissues need surgical repair.

For children with injuries of these types, Erb's palsy treatment is provided. The extent of the child's disability depends on factors such as the type of injury, the severity of the injury and the degree of Erb's palsy. A child can gain control of his/her upper extremities with the help of this treatment.

Immediate consultation with a medical professional is important in cases where the child's disorder has occurred due to medical negligence. Chances of the child suffering from birth trauma are due to him/her being in a breech position or more than 9 lbs. Usage of a medical instrument while pulling the baby out from the birth canal can also be one of the reasons.

Brachial plexus injury is an umbrella term for a variety of conditions the may impair or badly affect the function of the brachial plexus nerve network. Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery based in Texas provides the latest cosmetic surgery procedures including rhinoplasty, facelift, chin augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty and more