Brachial Plexus Injury in Dogs

A brachial plexus injury, also known as brachial plexus avulsion, is when the nerves in the armpit area of a dog are torn away from the spinal column. This will lead to paralysis of the front leg and could cause Horner's syndrome, which causes paralysis on the same side of the face as the affected leg.

  1. Causes

    • A brachial plexus injury is generally caused by trauma involving the shoulder. A car accident is the most common type of trauma for a dog, but anything that could lead to muscles being torn could lead to a brachial plexus injury.

    Symptoms

    • The main symptom for a brachial plexus injury is a paralyzed front leg immediately after a traumatic event. The dog will have no feeling in it and won't be able to bear weight on it. The symptoms for Horner's syndrome are considered secondary symptoms since this occurs in more than half the cases of brachial plexus injuries. The symptoms for Horner's syndrome include abnormal pupil size, protrusion of the third eyelid and/or a droopy lip all on the same side as the injured leg.

    Diagnosis

    • Since brachial plexus injuries usually happen after events traumatic enough to cause other injuries, initial diagnosis will include a full physical exam to check for such things as broken bones and contusions. The injured leg will be palpated or massaged by the veterinarian to check for feeling in the leg. The eyes and face will be examined to check for Horner's syndrome symptoms. The dog usually will be X-rayed under general anesthesia to check for broken bones and any internal injuries.

    Treatment

    • The most common treatment for a brachial plexus injury is physical therapy to maintain muscle tone and hope that at least partial movement and feeling of the leg can be regained. Other options may include radial nerve stimulation or steroids. If the dog is still unable to use the limb properly after six months, it may be given a sling to protect the leg, or the leg may be amputated.

    Prognosis

    • Complete recovery from a brachial plexus injury is rare, and even a partial recovery, enough to avoid use of a sling or amputation, is not common. Fortunately, three-legged dogs usually can have a good quality of life, although they would no longer be able to be working dogs.