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ERB'S PALSY
BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY
STATISTICS
Although a brachial plexus injury can occur at any time, they are
most common during the birth of a child. About 2 out of every 1000
babies suffer a brachial plexus injury at birth. About 1 out of
every 10 of these children will need treatment for their injuries.
PREVENTION
Brachial plexus injuries can often be avoided by delivering a child
via C-section. This alleviates the need to use excessive force to
remove a large child from the birth canal. However, not all brachial
plexus injuries occur when a woman attempts to vaginally deliver
a large baby. Even normal or premature babies can be injured when
proper care is not used to deliver the child.
TYPES
Brachial Plexus injury occurs as a result of the stretching or
tearing of nerves. The stretching injuries include:
- Neuropraxia - Neuropraxia is the most common brachial
plexus injury and refers to a nerve that has been stretched. This
type of injury may heal on its own with improvement being seen
in as little as three months.
- Neuroma - Neuroma refers to scar tissue that
has grown around the more severely stretched nerves. This scar
tissue may exert pressure on the injured nerve, thereby blocking
signals to the muscles. Surgery may be necessary to remove this
scar tissue.
When a nerve tears, the injury is more severe and often requires
surgery to be corrected. The tearing injuries include:
- Rupture - A rupture refers to a tear in one or more
nerves of the plexus, at a point away from where the nerve attaches
to the spine. This type of injury requires surgery for the nerves
to recover.
- Avulsion - An avulsion is the most severe type of Brachial
Plexus injury. It occurs when one or more nerves are torn away
from the spinal cord. Children suffering from this injury often
lack the ability to move the affected shoulder, arm or hand. Surgery,
and possibly muscle transfer, is necessary.
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