The Duke Nerve Center is committed to delivering expert, compassionate care for patients with peripheral nerve disorders. Our integrated team combines specialists in orthopaedics, neurology, and related fields to provide comprehensive diagnostics, advanced treatments, and personalized support for conditions that affect the nerves connecting the brain, spinal cord, and body.

Peripheral nerve injuries can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and loss of function. Early evaluation by a specialist is critical for the best outcomes. At Duke, our highly skilled surgeons and neurologists utilize state-of-the-art techniques to help patients restore function, alleviate pain, and enhance their quality of life.

Common Causes of Peripheral Nerve Injury

• Nerve Compression
  Excess pressure on a nerve from surrounding tissues can impair function. A typical example is Carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrist. Compression can also occur in the neck, chest, elbow, hip, leg, or ankle.

• Traumatic Injuries
  Accidents or sports-related trauma can tear, stretch, cut, or crush nerves. Injuries to the hand, arm, or shoulder often involve the brachial plexus, and some cases occur during birth.

• Nerve Tumors
  Benign tumors such as schwannomas and neurofibromas can grow on nerves. Rarely, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors develop in the protective layers around nerves.

• Underlying Conditions
  Peripheral neuropathy may result from congenital conditions like cerebral palsy or from brain and spinal injuries such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury.

• Autoimmune Disorders
  Rare conditions, such as Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, can affect nerves in the shoulder, arm, and hand.

Duke School of Medicine faculty are pioneering new approaches to nerve repair and regeneration, combining advanced microsurgical techniques with cutting-edge research. Learn more about our experts and their work in peripheral nerve care.