Plexopathy is a disorder affecting a network of nerves, blood vessels, or lymph vessels. The region of nerves it affects are at the brachial or lumbosacral plexus. Symptoms include pain, loss of motor control, and sensory deficits.

There are two main types of plexopathy; Brachial plexopathy and Lumbosacral Plexopathy. They are usually caused from some sort of localized trauma

Physical trauma

Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...

 such as a dislocated shoulder

Dislocated shoulder

A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and as a result is particularly susceptible to dislocation and subluxation. Approximately half of major joint...

. The disorder can also be caused secondary to a compression, co-morbid vascular disease

Vascular disease

Vascular disease is a form of cardiovascular disease primarily affecting the blood vessels.Some conditions, such as angina and myocardial ischemia, can be considered both vascular diseases and heart diseases .Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor....

, infection

Infection

An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...

, or may be idiopathic

Idiopathic

Idiopathic is an adjective used primarily in medicine meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. From Greek ἴδιος, idios + πάθος, pathos , it means approximately "a disease of its own kind". It is technically a term from nosology, the classification of disease...

 with an unknown cause.

Evaluation and management

The first steps in the evaluation and later management of plexopathy would consist of gathering a medical history

Medical history

The medical history or anamnesis of a patient is information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information , with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing...

 and conducting a physical examination

Physical examination

Physical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history — an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient...

 by a healthcare clinician. Motor function defect patterns detected within either the upper or lower extremities help with diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...

 of the disorder.

X-rays of the cervical spine, chest, and shoulder are usually ordered if symptoms point to acute lumbosacral plexopathy. If the physical history reveals a history of diabetes, collagen vascular disease, or symptoms of infection

Infection

An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...

, the physician may order a series of blood tests including a complete blood count

Complete blood count

A complete blood count , also known as full blood count or full blood exam or blood panel, is a test panel requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood...

 (CBC) and a comprehensive metabolic panel

Comprehensive metabolic panel

The comprehensive metabolic panel, or chemical screen, is a panel of 14 blood tests which serves as an initial broad screening tool for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants...

 (CMP).

Treatment

Mild cases are usually treated by the administration of analgesia and muscle relaxers. Reduced and limited physical activity with repeated follow-ups with the health care provider are required for one diagnosed with plexopathy. Individuals with prolonged, chronic symptoms will require additional testing and treatment. With brachial plexopathy, surgical decompression may be warranted if the pathophysiology of the disease is causing pressure on the affected nerves. "In some cases, no treatment is required and recovery happens on its own." Treatment for lumbosacral plexopathy that is not cause by trauma, but instead from diabetic plexopathy, is directed at controlling the person's blood sugar level. By preventing the deterioration of the nerve fibers from hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia or Hyperglycæmia, or high blood sugar, is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a glucose level higher than 13.5mmol/l , but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until even higher values such as 15-20 mmol/l...

, patients may recover significant muscle strength.

Disposition

Plexopathy symptoms often resemble spinal cord

Spinal cord

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...

disorders. A neurosurgical consultation is usually undertaken to insure proper diagnosis, management, and treatment. Patients with chronic symptoms will likely be advised to follow-up with outpatient care from either their health care provider or specialist.