Which nerves are most frequently injured due to improper positioning of the patient's arms?

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord in the neck and innervates the shoulder, arm, and hand. It is particularly susceptible to injury during surgical procedures when a patient’s arms are positioned improperly, such as being placed in positions that stretch or compress this network of nerves. This can occur if the arms are positioned too far away from the body or if excessive pressure is applied to the shoulder area. Such positioning can lead to stretch injuries or neurovascular compromise, ultimately affecting the function of the nerves within the brachial plexus.

In contrast, while the radial, median, and ulnar nerves can also be injured during surgeries, these injuries are often due to more localized pressure or specific positions rather than the widespread implications of improper arm positioning that affects the entire brachial plexus. The brachial plexus encompasses multiple nerves, including the radial, median, and ulnar, connecting their potential injury to the overall positioning of the arm. Therefore, the brachial plexus is recognized as the most frequently injured nerve group related to arm positioning in the perioperative environment.