"I never imagined that such a slender nerve could have such remarkable power. Fortunately, it was repaired in time and I have recovered — otherwise I would have been left with a permanent disability…"
In the consulting room of Vice President Zhang Songjian, a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery, Ms. Zhang — a woman in her fifties — demonstrated the function of her right arm while recounting her treatment journey.
Axillary nerve injury within the brachial plexus
[Top caption: Brachial plexus injury caused by shoulder dislocation — the right arm could not be lifted at all.] · ZZ.RENJI ·
The cause of Ms. Zhang's brachial plexus injury was a shoulder dislocation sustained in an accident. She was rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment, and after a period of recovery the wound healed — yet her right arm could not be lifted at all, and numbness developed in the shoulder region.
Ms. Zhang said:
"After the accident, although the function of my right arm was poor, it did recover little by little. For example, extension, flexion, and gripping were not very nimble at first, but as time went on these functions gradually came back.The shoulder was different — it could not be lifted even slightly. Numbness also appeared, and the right shoulder seemed to become somewhat thinner. I could not reach objects on high shelves or comb my hair… even self-care was affected. At the time I kept wondering: is this a sequela? Am I going to be disabled? I was extremely anxious…"
The accident had injured the brachial plexus of her right arm, resulting in shoulder abduction impairment together with numbness and other sensory symptoms.
Her child, who works in Zhengzhou, began searching and consulting online about the condition, and subsequently got in touch with Vice President Zhang Songjian, a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery, and his assistant. Based on the child's account of the cause and the symptoms, the initial diagnosis was brachial plexus injury, and an in-person consultation was recommended to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Her child later recalled:
"Although we both live in Zhengzhou, I had only heard of Renji before and had no deep understanding of the hospital. Once I knew treatment was possible, I first visited the hospital myself, consulted Dr. Zhang face to face, and also went to the wards — where I saw many patients in a similar situation to my mother.That visit told me not only that this is the Henan Provincial Brachial Plexus Diagnosis and Treatment Center, but also that it is a hospital that commands real respect: in more than 20 years since its founding it has set world records and developed technical innovations that have spared many people from disability…"
The Henan Provincial Brachial Plexus Diagnosis and Treatment Center
An admission date was promptly scheduled with Dr. Zhang, along with arrangements for bringing her mother to Zhengzhou for treatment.
· ZZ.RENJI ·
On the appointed day, Ms. Zhang came to Renji accompanied by her family. After physical examination and review of the imaging findings, Dr. Zhang found impairment of right shoulder abduction, with inability to lift or raise the shoulder, together with numbness and mild muscle atrophy. The diagnosis was confirmed as an axillary nerve injury within the brachial plexus, and a plan of "nerve repair + rehabilitation exercise" was formulated.
Dr. Zhang explained:
"Treatment of brachial plexus injury differs from that of other conditions. Successful surgery is only the prerequisite; achieving ideal functional recovery also requires the patient's self-disciplined exercise — that is the guarantee. Only when the two work fully together can the best outcome be achieved…"
Surgery was completed successfully the following day. Dr. Zhang used microsurgical technique to repair the injured nerve and associated structures. The procedure lasted a little over one hour.
Targeted functional exercises were introduced promptly after surgery to stimulate nerve recovery. After returning home, Ms. Zhang completed the exercises taught by the medical staff every day, in both quality and quantity.
"I recovered better day by day, and the more I exercised, the more strength I had. The staff also called or messaged periodically on WeChat to ask about my recovery, correct my technique, and guide the exercises…"
Before treatment and after ideal recovery
At review more than five months after surgery, the right arm showed free and nimble shoulder abduction and elevation. With both arms raised and abducted side by side, it was no longer possible to tell which had been the affected limb.
Her child said: "As expected of the Henan Provincial Brachial Plexus Diagnosis and Treatment Center — the reputation is fully deserved…"
Not only had the function of the right arm recovered ideally; the patient's whole demeanor had changed dramatically — from withdrawn and anxious before, to smiling now.
Treatment before and after
As we all know, once the brachial plexus is injured, it is not only arm function that is affected. If treatment is delayed over time, muscle atrophy may develop — and that is irreversible. Functional impairment and muscle atrophy therefore restrict independence in daily living and strike at a person's self-esteem.
If you or someone you know is troubled by brachial plexus injury, you may wish to consult the Peripheral Nerve Department at Renji. Today's medical techniques are already highly advanced: they can achieve better recovery of the injured nerve — and the kind of free, easy movement that Ms. Zhang now enjoys.
A tertiary hospital established more than 20 years ago — Zhengzhou Renji Hospital is the Henan Provincial Brachial Plexus Diagnosis and Treatment Center.
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