Our goal is to relieve symptoms of the nerve injury and perform nerve reconstruction as soon as possible with minimal impact on the patient’s quality of life. Our fellowship trained hand and upper extremity surgeons specialize in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery. The University of Michigan is a leading provider in the treatment of nerve injuries, from simple to complex. Sometimes, certain illnesses can affect nerves and cause similar symptoms in the upper extremity. However, if a nerve is cut or crushed, it may need surgical treatment in order to help improve or restore function to the hand or arm.
Occasionally, the nerve is bruised, and may heal on its own in time. Injuries to the upper extremity occasionally cause trauma to nerves, which can interfere with the various functions of the arm and hand. The nerves are larger in diameter near the neck, and eventually divide to form smaller branches in the upper arm, forearm and hand. The nerves in the upper extremity leave the central nervous system through several areas in the neck, and form a complex structure called the brachial plexus. These nerves are responsible for carrying messages from the brain to parts along the arm for movement, feeling and reflexes. There are many nerves that run between the shoulder and the fingertips in the area of the body known as the upper extremity.
