What is a Brachial Plexus Injury?

The brachial plexus (BRAY-key-el PLEK-sis) is a network of nerves that provides movement and feeling to the shoulder, arm, and hand. The nerves supporting the arms exit the spinal column high in the neck; those that support the hand and fingers exit lower in the neck.

This nerve complex is composed of four cervical nerve roots (C5-C8) and the first thoracic nerve root (T1). These roots combine to form three trunks. C5-C6 form the upper trunk, C7 continues as the middle trunk and C8-T1 form the lower trunk.

Each trunk splits into a division. Half the divisions globally supply flexor muscles (that lift and bend the arm). The others supply the extensor muscles (that straighten the arm and bring it down).

Causes of Brachial Plexus Injury

Most traumatic brachial plexus injuries occur when the arm is forcefully pulled or stretched. Many events can cause injury, including falls, motor vehicle collisions, knife and gunshot wounds, and even as a result of birth trauma.

It is not known exactly how many brachial plexus injuries occur each year, but the number seems to be growing throughout the world. Increased participation in high-energy sports and higher rates of survival from high-speed motor vehicle collisions may be factored in the growing number of these injuries.

Many brachial plexus injuries occur when the arm is pulled downward and the head is pushed to the opposite side.

Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury

Symptoms vary depending upon the type and location of the injury to the brachial plexus as well as whether the patient sustained other injuries. The most common symptoms of brachial plexus injury include:

  • Weakness or numbness
  • Loss of sensation
  • Loss of movement (paralysis)
  • Pain

The pain from brachial plexus injuries results from injury to the spinal cord where the nerve rootlets are avulsed from the cord. This pain is neuropathic in nature and can be very difficult to deal with. The pain can last for a very long time.

Brachial plexus injuries that occur at the level of the spinal cord often produce greater pain than injuries more distant from the spinal cord. In addition, injuries nearer the spinal cord may cause a burning numbness, which is called paresthesias or dysesthesias.

Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injury

Brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves, formed in the posterior cervical triangle by the union of ventral rami of fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth cervical nerve roots and first thoracic nerve root and is responsible for the innervation of the upper extremity.

The type of brachial plexus injury (BPI) is determined by the location of injury within the nerve route, that is, within the rootlets, the roots, or within the intervertebral foramina and the severity of the damage extending from a mild stretch to the nerve root tearing away from the spinal cord.

Traumatic BPIs may occur due to motor vehicle accidents, bike accidents, sports, etc., The prognosis is thus based on the size and type of BPI. For the treatment of BPI, there are few nonoperative (conservative) management strategies including rehabilitation and physiotherapy through which reasonable mobility can be achieved. 

However, stem cell therapy has shown great potential in treating brachial plexus injury. Stem cell therapy has the potential to repair the underlying nerve damage. The therapy has been postulated to have the potential to work at the microcellular level promoting reparative effects on the damaged nerve.

Cellular therapy is emerging as a therapeutic approach for neuromuscular injury. Stem cells possess the ability of self‑renewal and multi‑differentiation, in addition to having an immense safety profile.

Find articles, and Stem Cell Therapy Education & Resource material regarding Stem Cell Therapy. With a variety of options, our team stands ready to help  find the best solution for your health care needs today!

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Stem Cell Therapy

Unlike many other treatment methods available today, comes with a fairly high share of benefits. The autologous stem cells are not foreign bodies that are introduced into the system like antibiotics. Stem cells have the ability to repair and regenerate which makes it highly beneficial for them to heal highly damaged organs and tissues.

Pain Relief Injections

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IV Nutrition Therapy

Some times patients experience an imballance of general nutrients within their bodies. IV therapy introduces a balanced supplemental approach to your health needs. Discover the imbalance and let our team create a treatment program that will have you feeling your best.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

BHRT is typically used as people age and hormone levels drop, particularly for women who are in perimenopause or menopause. It’s used to increase the levels of the hormones that have dropped and improve moderate to severe menopause symptoms, including:

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Growth Factor Therapy

There are several different types of growth factors produced in the body, including:

  1. Epidermal growth factor (EGF): Stimulates the growth of fibroblasts, which are the cells that build collagen.
  2. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF): Promotes the growth of keratinocytes, which secrete the protein keratin.
  3. Transforming growth factors (TGF): Promotes the growth of new blood vessels to create the proper supply of blood flow to a healing wound.
  4. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF): Encourages the growth of angiogenesis, or new blood vessels.
  5. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF): Attracts fibroblasts and macrophages to the area of injured tissue.