How is a brachial plexus injury diagnosed?

How is a brachial plexus injury diagnosed?

If your healthcare provider suspects you have a brachial plexus injury, they’ll perform a comprehensive examination to diagnose the injury and determine whether you have any other injuries, which is common in forceful events that result in brachial plexus injuries.

Your provider will examine all the nerve groups involved with the brachial plexus to identify the specific location of the nerve injury and its severity. The pattern by which nerves from the brachial plexus control different muscles of your arm and hand will help your provider identify potential sites of nerve injury.

If your newborn shows signs of a brachial plexus injury, their provider will perform a physical exam to see if your baby can move their upper or lower arm or hand. Their affected arm may flop when their provider rolls them from side to side. The Moro reflex (startle response) is also absent on the side of the injury.