What is a brachial plexus injury?

[00:00:00.16] Narrator:
What is a brachial plexus injury?

[00:00:02.18] Brian Salvi:
A brachial plexus injury is typically one
that occurs during labor and delivery when

[00:00:07.05] Brian Salvi:
too much traction or too much force is
applied from the practitioner to the baby

[00:00:11.09] Brian Salvi:
while trying to bring them
out of the birth canal.

[00:00:13.16] Brian Salvi:
What ultimately can happen is you pull
on the arm too hard and you cause nerve

[00:00:18.18] Brian Salvi:
damage up in the neck and where
the shoulder and the neck nerves connect.

[00:00:22.20] Brian Salvi:
You can get multiple types of injuries
to this area where you're even pulling

[00:00:26.21] Brian Salvi:
the nerves out of the spinal cord root,
causing significant

[00:00:30.14] Brian Salvi:
permanent damage as a result.