Brachial Plexus News and Research

RSS

The brachial plexus refers to a network of nerves that start out in the neck and move through the upper limbs. This covers the shoulders, arms, elbows, forearms, wrist as well as the hand. All five of the nerves originate in the spinal cord. These nerves are responsible for the sensations and motor movements of the upper extremity. In medical terms, the brachial plexus is the somatic nerve plexus between the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve.

Injectable microtissue shows promise to improve neuromuscular recovery after peripheral nerve injuries

Researchers engineered the first injectable microtissue containing motor and sensory neurons encased in protective tissue, called tissue engineered neuromuscular interfaces (TE-NMIs).

6 Apr 2023

People with severe brachial plexus injuries report less pain, more satisfaction after amputation

Reconstruction surgery may not work for some people with severe brachial plexus injuries, so they choose to undergo amputation.

30 Jun 2022

New tissue engineered neuromuscular interfaces “babysit” the muscles to improve functional recovery

Researchers engineered the first injectable microtissue containing motor and sensory neurons encased in protective tissue, called tissue engineered neuromuscular interfaces (TE-NMIs).

5 Apr 2022

Peripheral nerve injuries and severe COVID-19

An interesting new study discusses the occurrence of peripheral nerve injuries in a subset of patients who survived severe COVID-19.

29 Sep 2021

Microsurgery improves outcomes in patients experiencing paralysis from Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

Orthopedic surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery performed successful microsurgery to repair damaged nerves and restore muscle strength and movement to patients experiencing paralysis from Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, according to a study published online ahead of print in The Journal of Hand Surgery.

27 Oct 2020

HSS researchers use novel MRI technique to study Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to use a novel MRI technique known as magnetic resonance neurography, or MRN, to study Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS), a painful nerve disorder that leads to severe weakness.

24 Sep 2020

Unexpected neurologic complication identified in severe COVID-19

Physicians working at Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have reported that a significant proportion of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who required intensive care developed unanticipated disabling neurological deficits that were related to a mononeuritis multiplex.

29 Jul 2020

Bortezomib drug helps re-balance disrupted muscle growth, prevent contractures

When children experience brachial plexus injury at birth, or are born with cerebral palsy, some of the most disabling problems that follow are muscle contractures, or tightness of muscles, that severely restrict limb function.

29 Oct 2019

Opioid drugs often overprescribed to children for pain relief, say CHOP surgeons

Opioid drugs prescribed to children for pain relief after a typical pediatric orthopaedic procedure may be significantly overprescribed, according to a new study by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

17 Jan 2019

Nerve transfer surgery restores arm movement in children with acute flaccid myelitis

An innovative and complex surgery involving nerve transfers is restoring hope and transforming lives torn apart by a mysterious and devastating illness. Acute flaccid myelitis, also known as AFM, strikes without warning, shows no mercy and frequently results in paralysis.

15 Jan 2019

Researchers discover anatomical variations in neck musculature linked to nTOS symptoms

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS) is a common neurologic syndrome resulting in pain, numbness, and/or weakness in the arm, forearm, and hand. This condition affects 0.3-8.0% of the U.S. population, and is generally caused by impingement of nerves traveling from the brachial plexus in the neck, through a region referred to as the thoracic outlet.

5 Sep 2017

FUJIFILM SonoSite continues to improve, expand ultrasound training and education

FUJIFILM SonoSite continues to lead the way in ultrasound training and education, helping clinicians to develop and maintain their practical skills in a variety of disciplines.

23 Aug 2017

Bionic hand reconstruction offers hope for patients with global brachial plexopathies

Bionic hand? No longer only an image conjured by science fiction, bionic hands return functionality in cases of traumatic nerve and muscle loss.

17 Jan 2017

HSS researchers identify new way to quickly diagnose and treat Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

Physicians at Hospital for Special Surgery have been studying patient outcomes of Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS), an uncommon neurological disorder that results in a sudden paralysis of one or more muscles around the shoulder and arm.

18 Oct 2016

Three Austrian men undergo bionic hand reconstruction

Three Austrian men have become the first in the world to undergo a new technique called “bionic reconstruction”, enabling them to use a robotic prosthetic hand controlled by their mind, according to new research published in The Lancet.

26 Feb 2015

Valproic acid can enhance neuronal regeneration following brachial plexus root avulsion

Brachial plexus root avulsion is the most serious type of peripheral nerve injury. Valproic acid has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote neurite outgrowth in several peripheral nerve injury models. However, whether valproic acid can exert its beneficial effect on neurons after brachial plexus avulsion injury is currently unknown.

3 Dec 2013

Study challenges widely held belief that long nerve grafts do poorly

A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery challenges a widely held belief that long nerve grafts do poorly in adults with an axillary nerve injury. Investigators found that the outcomes of long nerve grafts were comparable to those of modern nerve transfers.

25 Mar 2013

DBS can lead to long-term improvement in patients with neuropathic pain

For many patients with difficult-to-treat neuropathic pain, deep brain stimulation (DBS) can lead to long-term improvement in pain scores and other outcomes, according to a study in the February issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

14 Feb 2013

Study aims to raise awareness of nerve transfer surgery among health care providers

A study in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers aims to raise awareness of this type of surgery among health care providers.

1 Aug 2012

PeriGen’s patient safety campaign raises awareness about shoulder dystocia

PeriGen, Inc., the leading innovator of fetal surveillance systems, is launching a patient safety campaign designed to inform pregnant women about shoulder dystocia, a serious childbirth complication.

26 Jun 2012