Brachial plexus injury Brachial plexus injury A brachial plexus injury (BPI), also known as brachial plexus lesion, is an injury to the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that conducts signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. These nerves originate in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth cervical (C5–C8), and first thoracic (T1) spinal nerves, and innervate the muscles and skin of the chest, shoulder, arm and hand. Brachial plexus injuries can occur as a result of shoulder trauma, tumours, or inflammation. The rare Parsonage-Turner Syndrome causes brachial plexus inflammation without obvious injury, but with nevertheless disabling symptoms. But
Brachial plexus injury be divided into three types: Backpack palsy is caused by much use of a heavy backpack whose pack-straps chronically press on the brachial plexus. Injury to the brachial plexus can happen in numerous environments. These may include contact sports, motor vehicle accidents, and birth. Although these are but a common few events, there is one of two mechanisms of injury that remain constant during the point of injury. The two mechanisms that can occur are traction and heavy impact. The brachial plexus is made up of spinal nerves that are part of the peripheral nervous system. It includes sensory and