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Nerve Injuries

Nerve injuries is an all-encompassing term used to describe any traumatic damage to a nerve. Nerve damage can affect muscle function and cause loss of feeling. Nerve injuries can include force, such as a hit while playing sports or during a fall; a laceration in which the nerve is cut; or stretching that puts increased tension on the nerve.

Nerve injuries can be extremely complex, and treatment will vary based on the location and severity. An MRI can be used to evaluate the surrounding soft tissues and the extent of damage from the injury. An Electromyelogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) are other very common methods used to show the health of your nerves. A combination of pads and fine needles are used to determine the location of nerve injuries and help your orthopedic physician to determine treatment methods.

Our on-site diagnostics include x-ray and MRI to provide you with a convenient and comfortable evaluation.

Symptoms

  • Burning, tingling, itching, or abnormal sensations in the skin
  • Complete numbness in the skin
  • Decreased function of an extremity or loss of function of certain muscle groups
  • Abnormal reflexes
  • Muscle twitching

Causes

  • Injuries related to force. This may occur while playing sports or during a fall or vehicle accident for example.
  • Injuries related to cuts. This may result in a nerve being partially or fully cut.
  • Injuries related to stretching. This may occur when an extremity is hyper-flexed or extended, increasing the tension on a nerve. 

Risk Factors

  • Age – the ability to heal nerves lessens with time
  • Level of injury – the closer to the spine the injury occurs typically results in more motor and sensory losses and is more difficult to heal

Diagnosis

  • Physical examination of the affected areas
  • Electromyelogram and Nerve Conduction Study to assess the condition of the nerves and location of injury
  • MRI to show soft tissue health and evaluate other related injuries

Treatment Options

  • Long-term observation. Nerves are slower to heal than other tissues in the body and need more time to recover.
  • Surgical repair of a cut nerve, often using a microscope
  • A nerve tube - a small tube made of collagen is surgically inserted into a gap between nerve edges to help the nerve heal through the tube
  • Nerve grafting, surgical repair of a large gap between nerve edges