Brachial Plexus & Nerve Disorders Program

Our Mission

The mission of the Mass General Brigham Brachial Plexus & Nerve Disorders Program is to provide innovative, multidisciplinary clinical care for patients with disorders of the brachial plexus nerves and any other peripheral nerves of the hand and arm. We take an integrated approach to care that incorporates the input and expertise of orthopaedic surgeons, nerve surgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, pain specialists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. By collaborating across teams and hospitals, the program is able to offer our patients the most advanced clinical care.

About Our Program

The Mass General Brigham Brachial Plexus & Nerve Disorders Program treats patients with the entire spectrum of peripheral nerve disorders of the hand and arm, from brachial plexus injuries to digital neuromas. The goal of the program is to provide the best evidence-based clinical outcomes for patients through surgical and non-operative means. We offer Harvard-trained expertise and decades of combined experience to offer minimally invasive treatments that include nerve transfers, tendon transfers, joint/bony stabilization and re-alignments, free tissue transfers and other reconstructive solutions.

What is the Brachial Plexus?

The brachial plexus is the network of nerves connecting the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. Congenital or traumatic injuries to this network can result in pain, numbness, loss or impairment of local function, posture and mobility.

What Injuries and Conditions Affect the Brachial Plexus?

We treat both traumatic and non-traumatic nerve disorders of the shoulder, arm and hand, including:

• Brachial plexus injuries (any injury resulting in inability to move arm)
• Cerebral palsy
• Difficulty moving the shoulder and elbow from birth (congenital)
• Loss of feeling and function in arm after prior surgery/treatment
• Nerve compression (compressive neuropathies)
• Previously diagnosed brachial plexus nerve disorders with persistent pain, loss of feeling, and loss of function
• Stroke
• Spastic arm
• Thoracic outlet syndrome

What Treatments are Available for Brachial Plexus Conditions?

A variety of treatment options are available for brachial plexus conditions, including both nonoperative and surgical treatments. In the Mass General Brigham Brachial Plexus & Nerve Disorders Program, patients can expect a team of physicians with expertise in nerve disorders to perform a detailed physical examination. Further studies may be ordered, including x-rays, MRIs, and nerve tests. Some brachial plexus conditions improve without surgery, and in these cases, many patients benefit from physical therapy and/or occupational therapy to rehabilitate recovering nerves and muscles. More severe brachial plexus conditions may benefit from surgery. A variety of surgical options are available, depending on the severity and duration of symptoms alongside other patient factors. Our team of experts work in collaboration with the patient to develop a custom treatment plan that reflects each individual patient’s values and preferences.

Surgical treatment options for brachial plexus injury include:

Brachial plexus neurolysis: Brachial plexus neurolysis is a surgery to explore the nerves of the brachial plexus, rid them from any external compression, and free them from surrounding scar tissue.

Joint fusion: Joint fusion surgery treats arthritic, unstable or flail joints by fusing two bones into one.

Muscle or tendon transfer: Tendon transfer surgery connects a healthy, expendable muscle or tendon to a nonfunctional muscle or tendon.

Nerve grafting: Nerve grafting surgery replaces an injured nerve with a healthy one, implanted from another part of the body through microsurgery.

Nerve transfer: Nerve transfer surgery connects a healthy, expendable donor nerve to an injured nerve through microsurgery.

For Referring Providers

The Mass General Brigham Brachial Plexus Program welcomes referrals from doctors nationally and internationally. To refer a patient, send us an email or simply fill out an online referral form. For international patients, the International Patient Center at Massachusetts General Hospital is a full-service office that assists overseas patients seeking a consultation, a second opinion or medical treatment.

Brachial Plexus Research

Meet our Team

Mass General Brigham brachial plexus surgeons work hand-in-hand with colleagues in neurology, pain management, occupational & physical therapy, and physical medicine & rehabilitation to deliver comprehensive, all-inclusive care to every patient we serve.

Directors

• 

  Bassem Elhassan, MD

  • Co-Chief, Shoulder Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Program Director, Shoulder Service Fellowship
  • Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

• 

  Rohit Garg, MD, MBBS

  • Hand & Arm Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

• 

  Dafang Zhang, MD

  • Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Team Members

• 

  Abhiram Bhashyam, MD, PhD

  • Hand & Arm Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• 

  Philip Blazar, MD

  • Chief, Hand & Upper Extremity Service, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
  • Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• 

  Neal Chen, MD

  • Chief, Hand & Arm Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Director, Hand Surgery Fellowship Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• 

  George Dyer, MD

  • Upper Extremity Surgeon, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
  • Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
• 

  Brandon Earp, MD

  • Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
  • Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
• 

  Chaitanya Mudgal, MD, MS

  • Hand & Arm Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• 

  Jonathan Winograd, MD

  • Associate Visiting Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School