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Nerve injuries

A nerve injury can be caused by cutting the nerve by something sharp (like glass), pressure or stretching. Stretching can occur during a traffic accident in adults or by babies during birth. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, muscle or sensory functions of arms and legs can be weakened or damaged.

Brachial Plexus

A rare nerve injury is the brachial plexus injury. For more information about this specific injury you can check the page 'Brachial Plexus Injury' on this website. 

Severity

There's four degrees in which a nerve can be damaged: 

  1. The nerve is not damaged, but can temporarily not signal. The nerve will recover within days or weeks. De zenuw is niet kapot maar kan tijdelijk geen elektrische signalen doorgeven. De zenuw herstelt binnen enkele dagen tot weken.

  2. The nerve fibers are damaged, but the insulation layer (myelin sheath) of the nerve is intact. The nerves slowly grow back and (almost) full recovery will occur within months.

  3. Both the nerve fibers and the myelin sheath (insulation layer) of the nerves are damaged. Without the sheath the nerves start growing in all directions and don't reach the muscle. Without a surgery there will be no natural recovery.

  4. There's nerve scar tissue. The nerve won't reach the muscle and there's no natural recovery. 

Treatment

Depending on the severity and cause of the injury, surgery in adults usually is performed in the first days after the injury or natural recovery is awaited.

Within UNCH Haaglanden Medical Center and LUMC are specialised in treating patients with traumatic nerve injuries. More information can be found on the ZenuwCentrum website.

Gerelateerde aandoeningen

Plexus Brachialis letsel
Zenuwtumor
Wervelkolomtrauma