brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Plexus Disorders
Causes of Plexus Disorders
The most common causes of damage to a plexus are Physical injury Cancer An accident that pulls the arm or severely bends the arm at the shoulder may damage the brachial plexus (located near the shoulder). In newborns, the brachial plexus can be damaged during birth if the delivery requires pulling or other maneuvers. A fall can injure the lumbosacral plexus (located near the hip). A cancer growing in the breast or upper part of the lung can invade and destroy the brachial plexus. Cancer of the intestine, bladder, or prostate can invade the lumbosacral plexus. Other masses, such as a noncancerous (benign) tumor, an abscess, or a pocket of blood (hematoma), may cause plexus disorders by putting pressure on a plexus. Diabetes or radiation therapy for breast cancer, which can damage nerves throughout the body, may also damage nerves in a plexus. (Parsonage-Turner syndrome, or neuralgic amyotrophy) is sudden malfunction of the brachial plexus due to inflammation rather than injury or cancer. It is probably caused by an Autoimmune Disorders —when the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues—or a virus. This disorder occurs primarily in men. It typically occurs in young adults but can occur at any age. 