Injuries to the Brachial Plexus
At the side of the neck on each side the nerves exit from the spinal areas at each level and join and separate in a complicated manner in what is anatomically called the brachial plexus. This nerve collection runs down from the neck to the armpit where it separates into the individual nerves of the arm. The plexus is well placed to be easily injured in knife wounds, bullet wounds, sudden traction (stretch) and direct blows. Because of the severity of the injury and limited recovery, a brachial plexus lesion can leave someone with a painful arm of very limited use.