What is a brachial plexus injury?

What is a brachial plexus injury?

The brachial plexus is a network of intertwined nerves that control movement and sensation in your arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury involves sudden damage to these nerves, which may cause pain, weakness, loss of feeling or loss of movement in your shoulder, arm and/or hand.

The brachial plexus begins at your neck and crosses your upper chest to your armpit. Injury to this network of nerves often happens when your arm is forcibly pulled or stretched or your head and neck are forcibly pulled away from your shoulder.

Mild brachial plexus injuries may heal without treatment, but more severe injuries may require surgery to regain function in your arm or hand.

Babies can experience brachial plexus injuries while in the womb or during delivery. This injury is called neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP).