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An arresting injury.

M A Lambert1

  • 1Accident and Emergency Department, General Infirmary, Leeds, England.

Archives of Emergency Medicine
|December 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Handcuffing suspects with hands behind their back can cause serious branchial plexus injuries. This medical case series highlights the risks associated with this restraint method.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Traumatology
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • The branchial plexus is a network of nerves in the shoulder and neck crucial for arm and hand function.
  • Improper or prolonged restraint techniques can lead to nerve damage.
  • Handcuffing is a common law enforcement procedure with potential medical complications.

Observation:

  • Three distinct cases of branchial plexus injury were identified.
  • All injuries resulted from handcuffing with the hands positioned behind the subject's back.
  • Symptoms included pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected arm and hand.

Findings:

  • Direct pressure and stretching of the brachial nerves during handcuffing can cause significant injury.
  • The specific mechanism involves compression or traction on the nerves in the shoulder/axillary region.

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  • Delayed recognition and intervention may lead to persistent neurological deficits.

    • Implications:

    • Medical professionals should consider handcuffing as a potential cause of branchial plexus injuries in relevant clinical scenarios.
    • Law enforcement agencies may need to review and potentially modify restraint protocols to mitigate nerve injury risks.
    • This underscores the importance of safe and medically informed application of restraints.