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There are 3 types of Brachial Plexus Injuries:
*Stretch--which vary in degrees of intensity, however, nerves in the
plexus are often compressed due to swelling and bruising from the birth
trauma of shoulder getting caught on the pelvic bone. Stretch injuries will
spontaneously recover up to 1-2 years of age with 90-100% return of
function.
*Neuroma--which is scar tissue that compresses the nerves may occur also and surgical intervention is sometimes needed to remove it.
* Rupture--nerves are torn at either one or several places in the plexus requiring surgery for nerves to recover.
*Avulsion (most severe injury)--nerves are pulled from the spinal cord
as evidenced by a totally flaccid extremity or part of extremity, which
requires surgery and possibly a muscle transfer to gain function. Horner's
syndrome may be present if T1 is involved.
Brachial Plexus Injury Center - Texas Children's Hospital
A GREAT Personal BP Web Site -- and TCH Surgery Details
An Inspirational Story for Parents by Erma Bombeck
Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery
* All photos were borrowed from the Brachial Plexus Injury Center of TCH web site.