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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgThe brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord and controls muscle movements and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand. Trauma to this network — most commonly caused by auto or motorcycle accidents, sports injuries, falls, immunologic injury (abnormal immune response), hereditary factors, or childbirth (Erb's palsy or obstetrical brachial plexus) — can leave the arm without function. Tumors, compression and irradiation can also affect the brachial plexus.
For many years, Mayo Clinic physicians have been at the leading edge of brachial plexus surgery. Using advanced microsurgical techniques (including nerve and muscle transfers), surgeons have introduced new methods to repair damaged nerves of the brachial plexus to restore some function to the arm.
Mayo Clinic is ranked No. 1 in Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.
Symptoms of a traumatic brachial plexus injury range from numbness or weakness and a burning sensation in the arm to a complete lack of motor function and severe pain, depending on the extent of the injury.
Symptoms are typically noticed soon after the injury. The diagnosis of a brachial plexus injury may be delayed, however, if other serious injuries need treatment more urgently. Patient evaluation should occur as early as possible (preferably within one month) following injury. Read more about brachial plexus diagnosis.
Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the injury. Mild injuries may heal themselves. More serious injuries will require surgery to repair injured nerves. Among the options offered at Mayo are neurolysis, nerve grafts, nerve transfers and muscle transfers.
After treatment, Mayo physicians monitor patients for functional recovery. Read more about treatment of traumatic injuries and infants with Erb's palsy.
Brachial Plexus
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord and controls muscle movements and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to the nerves in the brachial plexus network, which originates from the spinal cord to control muscle movements and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand. There are multiple types of brachial plexus injuries and treatment is determined by the type of injury.
Read more about brachial plexus injury at MayoClinic.com.
Cyclist John Floyd's brachial plexus injury changed his competitive goals. Surgery to repair his injury put him back on his bicycle.
Read John's story.
See all patient stories related to Brachial Plexus Injuries.
Read all patient stories.
Mayo Clinic physicians have conducted extensive research about brachial plexus injuries.
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