How to Test for Brachial Plexus Compromise

The brachial plexus consists of the motor and sensory nerves in the arm, hand, and shoulder. When a "compromise"--or injury--occurs to this system, usually a stretch or a tear, it interrupts signals being sent from the spine. Injury is usually caused by the shoulder being held down while the head is pushed in the other direction, such as in sports, falls, auto accidents or to a baby during birth. There are four tests available to determine how bad the injury is before your doctor decides on a treatment plan.

Instructions

• 1

  Request an MRI if there is a concern that the nerve has been completely severed. This common test sends radio waves and a magnetic field through the body to produce an image of the interior damage and surrounding area.

• 2

  Ask for electromyography, which can assess the health of the nerves that move the arm and shoulder muscles. In this test, the patient has to contract a muscle after small electrodes on needles are inserted through the skin, directly into the muscle. Depending on how much electricity can be generated during the contraction, the physician can determine the amount of muscle response after the nerves are stimulated.

• 3

  Inquire about a nerve conduction study, which measures how quickly impulses conduct through a specific nerve when it is stimulated. The patient receives a small shock-like sensation from an electrode resembling a patch attached to the skin.

• 4

  Insist on a CT (computerized tomography) myelography, a type of X-ray that requires a material to be injected into the spine, allowing the technician to clearly see the spinal cord and nerve roots in a detailed "photo".