Brachial Plexus Injury – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that carries signals between the spinal cord and the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can range from mild to severe.

These injuries happen when the nerves get stretched, compressed, or in worst cases, completely torn from the spinal cord.

Mild injuries to the brachial plexus, known as stingers or burners, commonly occur during contact sports like football. Newborns may experience these injuries during birth.

The most severe cases typically result from car or motorcycle accidents, which can cause paralysis in the arm.

Other health conditions that might affect the brachial plexus include:

• Inflammation
• Tumors
• Birth complications

While serious injuries can result in loss of arm function, surgical intervention may help restore some movement and feeling. Treatment options depend on the severity and type of injury.

Signs and Indicators

Minor Harm

When the nerves in the brachial plexus get stretched or pinched during sports like football or wrestling, minor injuries can happen. These are often called stingers or burners.

You might feel:

• An electric shock feeling or burning sensation down your arm
• Temporary numbness and weakness

These symptoms typically last for seconds or minutes. However, some people may experience them for days or longer.

Severe Damage

More serious injuries occur when nerves are severely damaged, torn, or pulled away from the spinal cord. Look for these symptoms:

• Inability to use certain muscles in your hand, arm, or shoulder
• Lack of feeling in affected areas (shoulder, arm, hand)
• Severe pain that doesn’t quickly resolve

The most serious type happens when the nerve root completely separates from the spinal cord, which can cause permanent problems.

Time to Seek Medical Help

Don’t ignore symptoms, even if they seem minor. Visit your doctor if you experience:

• Repeated stingers or burners that don’t quickly improve
• Ongoing weakness in your hand or arm
• Pain in your neck area
• Symptoms affecting both arms

Early treatment is important because brachial plexus injuries can lead to lasting weakness or disability if not properly addressed.

What Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries

Brachial plexus injuries happen in specific ways depending on which nerves are affected. Upper nerve injuries occur when the shoulder is pushed down while the head is forced in the opposite direction.

Lower nerve injuries typically happen when the arm is pulled above the head.

Several common causes lead to these injuries:

• Sports Injuries: Football players often experience “burners” or “stingers” when nerves stretch beyond their normal limits during tackles or collisions with other players.

• Birth Complications: Newborns may suffer brachial plexus damage during difficult deliveries, especially with:

  • High birth weight babies
  • Lengthy labor
  • Breech (bottom-first) presentation
  • Shoulders becoming stuck in the birth canal

When babies experience these injuries, they commonly affect the upper nerves, resulting in a condition called Erb palsy.

• Traumatic Accidents: Various accidents can damage the brachial plexus, including:

  • Car crashes
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Falls from heights
  • Bullet wounds

• Growth of Tumors: Tumors may develop spontaneously near the brachial plexus. In rare cases, they form due to health conditions like neurofibromatosis or as a result of radiation treatment.

Risk Factors

Activities that involve physical contact or high speeds can increase the chance of brachial plexus injuries. These include:

• Contact sports like football and wrestling
• Motor vehicle accidents at high speeds

These situations put stress on the neck and shoulder area, which can damage the nerve network.

Complications

Mild brachial plexus injuries often heal naturally with few problems. However, more severe injuries may lead to several complications:

Joint Stiffness

When hand or arm paralysis occurs, joints can become rigid and difficult to move. This stiffness may persist even after regaining some function, making physical therapy an important part of recovery.

Chronic Pain

Nerve damage can cause lasting pain that may continue throughout life. This pain can be challenging to manage and may require ongoing treatment.

Loss of Sensation

Numbness in the affected arm or hand creates safety risks. Without proper feeling, a person might accidentally burn or injure themselves without realizing it.

Muscle Deterioration

Nerves regrow very slowly, sometimes taking years to heal. During this extended recovery period, unused muscles may waste away (atrophy), further limiting function.

Long-term Disability

Recovery from serious brachial plexus injuries depends on several factors:

• Age at the time of injury
• Type and location of damage
• Severity of the nerve trauma

Even with surgical intervention, some individuals experience permanent muscle weakness or paralysis that affects them for life.

Prevention

Taking steps to prevent complications after a brachial plexus injury can improve recovery outcomes.

For adults with temporary loss of hand or arm function, daily range-of-motion exercises and physical therapy help prevent joint stiffness. Since numbness may be present, be careful to avoid burns or cuts that might go unnoticed.

Athletes recovering from brachial plexus injuries should consider wearing protective padding when participating in sports activities. This extra protection helps safeguard the vulnerable area during healing.

For infants with brachial plexus palsy, parents should begin gentle exercise routines when the baby is just a few weeks old.

These daily movements are crucial for:

• Preventing permanent joint stiffness
• Maintaining strength in functioning muscles
• Supporting healthy development of the affected limb

Regular exercise of the affected area keeps joints flexible and muscles strong. Healthcare providers can demonstrate proper techniques for these exercises to ensure they’re done correctly and safely.