Louise’s Story: Brachial Plexus Surgery

Watch as Louise shares her experience having brachial plexus surgery with Dr. Andrew Elkwood. Following several spine surgeries, Louise experienced severe pain in her neck and both shoulders. Being an active person, she knew that she couldn’t live life in pain any longer and began looking for solutions. Fortunately, she found Dr. Andrew Elkwood of the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, an expert in treating brachial plexus injuries.

What is the brachial plexus?

The brachial plexus is a complex bundle of nerves originating at the cervical spine and passing down to the shoulder and arm. Nearly all signals that go from the brain to the upper arm and chest pass through the brachial plexus. When a person sustains injury to the shoulder, neck or arm, the nerves of the brachial plexus can also sustain damage, which may cause loss of sensation, paralysis of the arm, or chronic pain.

Surgical Treatment for Brachial Plexus Injuries

Brachial plexus reconstruction may be necessary for patients who are experiencing arm paralysis, pain, or numbness as a result of damage to nerves in the shoulder, neck or chest. Brachial plexus reconstruction often involves the use of numerous surgical techniques. Each patient’s treatment plan is unique and may involve multiple procedures being performed at once, or in a staged approach. Brachial plexus reconstruction may include the following surgical treatments: nerve repair/decompression, nerve transfer, muscle transfer, tendon transfer and joint fusion.

Dr. Andrew Elkwood is known as the “soloist” of brachial plexus surgery. With years of experience, he has developed a treatment algorithm utilized to determine the best surgical treatment(s) for each individual case. With thorough diagnostic testing, individualized treatment planning and precise surgical intervention, Dr. Elkwood has successfully been able to provide patients with brachial plexus injuries an improved quality of life. Whether patients are experiencing pain, paralysis, or a loss of sensation, Dr. Elkwood can perform various surgical procedures to provide each patient with the best outcome possible.

Schedule an appointment to learn more about our brachial plexus surgeons and the surgical treatment options we offer!