Brachial Plexus News and Research

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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.

Diluent choice affects neuromuscular block times

Anesthesiologists can achieve successful axillary brachial plexus block faster by diluting ropivacaine in dextrose rather than saline, results of a randomized trial show.

30 May 2012

Facelift incision with no-neck-scar approach safe and effective for thyroid patients

A facelift incision and robotics can help surgeons safely remove a portion of a diseased thyroid from some patients without the characteristic neck scar.

1 Jun 2011

HSS researchers develop new tool to compare efficacy of different brachial plexus surgical treatments

The way that clinicians report outcomes of surgery for a traumatic nerve injury involving the arm is not standardized, and it is thus difficult to compare the efficacy of different surgical treatments, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York.

20 May 2011

Masimo's noninvasive SpMet provides measurements comparable to invasive methemoglobin testing

Masimo announced today that a new clinical study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia demonstrates that Masimo noninvasive and continuous methemoglobin (SpMet®) measurements provide a high degree of agreement in measurements with corresponding laboratory values of methemoglobin obtained by invasive methemoglobin testing. In addition, the authors concluded that SpMet could facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of methemoglobinemia during high-risk procedures.

22 Sep 2010

Investment banker with Brachial Plexus Palsy climbs all Seven Summits

Paul Fejtek has successfully achieved his goal of being the first person with Brachial Plexus Palsy to climb all Seven Summits (the highest mountain on each continent). With wife Denise by his side, Paul reached the earth's highest peak and paused for a moment to take it all in. "Standing on the summit of Mt. Everest was truly amazing," he said. "It was the experience of a lifetime."

26 May 2010

SBi introduces 10-minute new surgical technique DVD for hand surgeons

Small Bone Innovations, Inc., a leading, privately-held orthopedics company focused exclusively on technologies and treatments for the small bones & joints, is making available to hand surgeons a new 10-minute new surgical technique DVD showing an innovative volar approach to insertion of its SR™ PIP (Proximal Interphalangeal) implant.

17 Feb 2010

Regional nerve block anesthesia improve recovery, outcomes

When planning for surgery, patients too often don't consider the kind of anesthesia they will receive. In fact, the choice of anesthesia can improve recovery, even outcomes.

4 Aug 2009

UC Davis team refines cancer treatments to reduce potential nerve damage

While radiation treatments deliver precise doses of high-energy X-rays to stop cancer cells from spreading or to shrink tumors, oncologists have become increasingly concerned about inadvertent exposures during head and neck cancer treatments to nerves responsible for upper body mobility.

15 Dec 2008

Growing spinal cord nerves after injury

In tests on rats, researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Michigan have developed a treatment that helps spinal cord nerves regrow after injury.

18 Jul 2006

Discovered of gene mutations associated with hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy

In a significant advance toward understanding a perplexing and painful neurological disorder, an international team of researchers has discovered gene mutations associated with an inherited chronic pain and weakness syndrome known as hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (also called HNA).

27 Sep 2005

Moderate hypothermia is a safe treatment following traumatic brain injury in children

A first-of-its-kind multi-center trial has shown that cooling the body can have positive affects on children who suffered traumatic brain injury.

27 Apr 2005

Freezing tumors is an effective way to treat a cancer patient's pain

The study, which appears in the March 2005 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, found that cryoablation relieved the pain of four patients who had very advanced disease.

3 Mar 2005

Least forceful way to deliver a baby whose shoulders are stuck in the birth canal

Johns Hopkins researchers, using a novel birthing simulator designed by biomedical engineering faculty, staff and students at the University, have identified what may be the least forceful way to deliver a baby whose shoulders are stuck in the birth canal.

3 Jan 2005

Episiotomy does not reduce the risk of injury to infants during a complicated birth

A new study from Johns Hopkins suggests that routine widening of the vagina, a procedure known as an episiotomy, does not reduce the risk of injury to infants during a complicated birth, such as when a baby's shoulders are stuck in the birth canal after the head is already out.

4 Oct 2004