Brachial Plexus Risk Factors
The treatment for brachial plexus injuries have improved over the last couple of decades, but we still see many brachial plexus injuries. In fact, they have become one of the most common injuries in the United States. Weakness in the upper arms could indicate that the child may have developed a brachial plexus injury during birth. In some cases, nerve tissue components can be regenerated if the nerve tissue has been preserved.
Complications That Can Occur
If given enough time, most brachial plexus injuries will heal in both infants and adults without a problem. However, some injuries can result in a permanent disability. Some of the most common complications that your child might experience include:
- Muscle atrophy
- Numbness
- Pain
- Stiff joints
- Permanent disability
Can You Prevent This Condition?
Unfortunately, many of the brachial plexus injury risk factors that occur are unpreventable. For example, children will be at a higher risk for this condition if the mother has diabetes because it can result in a bigger baby. This puts the mother and the child at risk for complications. In some cases, the doctor can lower the risk that the child will suffer a birth injury by opting for a cesarian section (C-section). A C-section lowers the risk that the baby will get stuck at the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery.
When You Should See a Doctor
If you believe that your child has suffered this birth disorder, you should schedule a doctor appointment for evaluation as soon as possible. Even if you need financial assistance, you can find ways of getting it. The sooner your child is evaluated by a doctor, the sooner a diagnosis can be made and treatment initiated. In some cases, your child may need surgery, and early surgery goes a long way to increase the chances of success. When surgery is delayed, the rate of success decreases. Typically, however, doctors like to wait anywhere from three months to six months before operating because the child needs to be observed to determine whether or not surgery is necessary. Like with all surgeries, they come with their fair share of risks. To begin the process, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Cerebral palsy has similarities to brachial plexus injuries, but at the same time, they also differ. The brachial plexus injury risk factors are different because while cerebral palsy presents as a neurological condition; a brachial plexus injury directly impacts the nerves. When the nerves get damaged in the brachial plexus, the arms, shoulders and hands may not work as well as what they should. In many cases, children recover from this condition, but they may continue to experience some symptoms. These injuries can arise in a variety of different ways.