Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
MRI
An arm that's gone weak or numb after a shoulder injury, a road accident, or - in a newborn - a difficult delivery, points doctors toward the brachial plexus, the bundle of nerves running from your neck down to your shoulder, arm, and hand. This scan images that nerve network directly, which matters because how it's damaged changes the treatment - a nerve root pulled away from the spinal cord needs a different surgical approach than a nerve stretched or torn further down the arm. One review of traumatic injuries found MRI distinguishes these patterns with 93% sensitivity and 72% specificity. It's also used to look for a nerve tumor pressing on the plexus. No radiation is involved.
This scan images the brachial plexus - the nerve network running from your neck to your shoulder, arm, and hand - to look for a nerve injury or a mass pressing on it. It helps show whether nerve roots have been pulled away from the spinal cord or damaged further along, which changes what treatment is needed.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that carries signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm, and hand, according to MedlinePlus. Damage anywhere along that network can cause arm weakness, reduced muscle control, or numbness, depending on which part is affected.
Not all brachial plexus injuries are treated the same way. A nerve root torn away from the spinal cord, called a preganglionic injury, generally needs a different surgical approach than a nerve that's stretched or torn further down the arm. One review found MRI distinguishes these patterns with 93% sensitivity and 72% specificity, which is part of why imaging is done early rather than waiting to see if function returns on its own.
- Shoulder or neck trauma, including road or sports accidents - A tumor pressing on the nerve network - Inflammation affecting the brachial plexus - In newborns, nerves stretched or torn when the shoulders become stuck during delivery
MRI uses magnets and radio waves instead of X-rays, so no radiation is involved, which matters since nerve injuries are sometimes monitored with more than one scan over time.
It's a network of nerves that carries signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm, and hand, according to MedlinePlus. Damage anywhere along it can cause weakness, numbness, or reduced movement in the arm.
A nerve root torn away from the spinal cord generally needs a different surgical approach than a nerve stretched or torn further down the arm. This scan helps tell those two patterns apart.
One review of traumatic injuries found MRI distinguishes injury patterns with 93% sensitivity and 72% specificity. Your doctor combines these images with a physical exam and nerve testing.
Yes, brachial plexus injury in newborns is a recognized cause of reduced arm movement after a difficult delivery. Ask your doctor about the right timing and approach for imaging an infant.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
No. MRI uses magnets and radio waves rather than X-rays, so no radiation is involved.
Yes, it can show a mass pressing on the brachial plexus, which is one of the reasons it's ordered alongside trauma-related injuries.
Ask your doctor or the centre directly about preparation, especially for a young child or infant, since specifics can vary.