Brachial plexus injury

Brachial plexus injury
Other namesBackpack palsy (BPP), rucksack palsy, rucksack paralysis
The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front
SpecialtyEmergency medicine Edit this on Wikidata

A brachial plexus injury (BPI), also known as brachial plexus lesion, is an injury to the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that conducts signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. These nerves originate in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth cervical (C5–C8), and first thoracic (T1) spinal nerves, and innervate the muscles and skin of the chest, shoulder, arm and hand.[1][2][3]

Brachial plexus injuries can occur as a result of shoulder trauma (e.g. dislocation[4]), tumours, or inflammation, or obstetric. Obstetric injuries may occur from mechanical injury involving shoulder dystocia during difficult childbirth,[5] with a prevalence of 1 in 1000 births.[6]

"The brachial plexus may be injured by falls from a height on to the side of the head and shoulder, whereby the nerves of the plexus are violently stretched. The brachial plexus may also be injured by direct violence or gunshot wounds, by violent traction on the arm, or by efforts at reducing a dislocation of the shoulder joint".[7]

The rare Parsonage–Turner syndrome causes brachial plexus inflammation without obvious injury, but with nevertheless disabling symptoms.[1][8]

  1. ^ a b "NINDS Brachial Plexus Injuries: Information Page". National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 2008-09-29. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  2. ^ "Brachial Plexus Injury: Description & illustrations". Cincinnati Children's Hospital Health Library. March 2021. Archived from the original on 2004-10-10. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  3. ^ Glanze, W.D.; Anderson, K.N.; Anderson, L.E, eds. (1990). Mosby's Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary (3rd ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: The C.V. Mosby Co. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-8016-3227-3.
  4. ^ Jordan, Rupert; Wade, Ryckie G.; McCauley, Gordon; Oxley, Suzanne; Bains, Robert; Bourke, Gráinne (September 2021). "Functional deficits as a result of brachial plexus injury in anterior shoulder dislocation" (PDF). Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 46 (7): 725–730. doi:10.1177/1753193421993088. PMID 33611983. S2CID 231988158.
  5. ^ "A.D.A.M Healthcare center". Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  6. ^ Chauhan, Suneet P.; Blackwell, Sean B.; Ananth, Cande V. (2014-06-01). "Neonatal brachial plexus palsy: Incidence, prevalence, and temporal trends". Seminars in Perinatology. Shoulder dystocia and neonatal brachial plexus palsy. 38 (4): 210–218. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2014.04.007. ISSN 0146-0005. PMID 24863027.
  7. ^ Warwick, R.; Williams, P.L, eds. (1973). Gray's Anatomy (35th ed.). London: Longman. p. 1046.
  8. ^ "Parsonage-Turner Syndrome". Who Named It?. Archived from the original on 2002-04-23. Retrieved 2021-11-30.