Terms

Brachial Plexus - a network of nerves that exit the cervical (neck) and upper thoracic (chest) spinal column to provide control to the arms and hands. Brachial refers to the arm. Plexus means network.

EMG - is an abbreviation for electromyogram. This is a diagnostic technique used to see if signals are getting from the nerves to the muscles. A needle is inserted into various areas of the arm and an electrical current is sent through it. A machine then takes measurements based on the electrical stimulation and the corresponding muscle contractions. A judgement is then made as to whether the nerves are working properly.

Erb's Palsy - paralysis of the upper arm caused by an injury to the Brachial Plexus.

Horner's Syndrome - a mild palsy of the eye. It is caused when the "T-1" nerve of the Brachial Plexus has been injured. It is common with Brachial Plexus Injuries. The affected eyelid looks "droopy" or "lazy". The pupil is often smaller as well.

Innervation - contact that nerves make with the muslces they control. For instance - the biceps muscle is "innervated" by the nerve called "C-6".

Klumpke's Palsy - paralysis of the forearm caused by injury to the Brachial Plexus. It is often called a Lower Trunk Injury.

MRI - is an abbreviation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This is a technique that is used to diagnose avulsions and ruptures in the brachial plexus. The patient is put into a large machine. The machine emits a very powerful magnetic field. The machine then uses this field to create very detailed pictures of the inside of the body. It is very effective, but not usually 100% reliable in diagnosing avulsions and ruptures.

Myelogram - is a diagnostic technique in which a dye is injected into the spinal canal. Using some form of radiology, a picture is then taken of the spinal cord and it's branches. The dye will highlight the nerve areas in the picture. This technique has been largely replaced by the MRI.

Nerves of the Brachial Plexus - nerves exiting the spinal cord are labeled in numerical order. For instance, the first nerve of the cervical (neck) part of the spinal cord is called "C-1". The first nerve of the thoracic (chest) part of the spinal column is called "T-1". The nerves of the brachial plexus are:

• C-5 controls the deltoid muscle.
• C-6 controls the biceps muscle.
• C-7 controls the triceps muscle. It also causes the wrist to lift up.
• C-8 controls the hand. It also causes the wrist to pull down.
• T-1 controls facial muscles around the eye. Damage to this nerve causes Horner's Syndrome.

Neuroma - scar tissue that developes around the injured nerves. It can reduce or eliminate the ability of the nerve to send signals to the muscles.

Range of Motion - this refers to exercizes used to keep affected joints from freezing up. It is usually abbreviated as ROM. A physical therapist or an occupational therapist should guide the patient or parent in how to do these exersizes.

Rupture - When a nerve is torn. Often, it can be repaired by harvesting a piece of nerve elsewhere in the body and bypassing the torn area by grafting the harvested piece into usable sites on the damaged nerve, thereby closing the gap created by the tear.

Stretch - when the nerve has been pulled or elongated due to some sort of trauma. It is not uncommon for stretches to heal on their own. The technical name for this is neuropraxia.

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