ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ÊÓƵ

Shirley Ryan ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ÊÓƵ¡¯s expert physiatrists and therapists at our Nerve CARE Clinic are committed to helping patients restore function and improve their quality of life after experiencing a complex nerve injury. We differentiate our program by offering not only access to advanced surgical care from peripheral nerve specialists ¡ª including a hand fellowship-trained plastic surgeon and a neurosurgeon with expertise in both peripheral nerve and spine surgery ¡ª but also comprehensive rehabilitation and precision assessments to guide individualized treatment.

Though complex nerve injuries present many challenges, patients often benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to achieve their best recovery. Through our collaborative model, we offer:

• Integrated clinical care
• Innovative rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ÊÓƵ
• Advanced surgery and procedures in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine

With coordinated treatment, patients in our clinic receive timely care for their injuries ¡ª essential for preventing further nerve damage, promoting faster healing and regaining optimal function.

Complex nerve injuries result from severe damage or trauma to the body¡¯s peripheral nervous system ¡ª the important network of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that control movement, sensation and automatic functions like breathing.

Examples of complex nerve injuries we treat in our clinic include partial or total loss of limb function due to tetraplegia after a spinal cord injury; injury to the brachial plexus, a complex network of nerves that impacts shoulder, arm or hand movement; and injury to the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm, that can result in diaphragm paralysis or inhibited respiratory function. Our team also has expertise in managing polytraumatic injuries (e.g., severe injuries affecting at least two body systems or organs), including those involving the spinal cord and brain. Our focus is on restoring function through coordinated, interdisciplinary care.

We provide a wide range of offerings for patients with complex nerve injuries across all levels of care ¡ª inpatient, DayRehab and outpatient therapy. Services include: 

Assessments

We offer precise injury evaluation to inform treatment plans for patients. Assessments include electrodiagnostic (EDX) tests, nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG), as well as advanced imaging such as point-of-care neuromuscular ultrasound, ultrasound-guided EDX, and specialized MR neurography protocols.

Rehabilitation Care

Rehabilitation for complex nerve injuries may include specialized hand therapy for nerve injury care, orthotics, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for diaphragm muscle dysfunction (phrenic nerve injury), neuromuscular re-education, spasticity management, as well as biofeedback and functional electrical stimulation (FES) to stimulate the nerves.

Additionally, thanks to our research partnerships and access to Shirley Ryan ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ÊÓƵ¡¯s advanced rehabilitation technologies, we are able to offer innovative treatments not widely available elsewhere, while utilizing sophisticated tools and approaches that support recovery and optimize functional outcomes.

Advanced Surgical Care in Collaboration With Northwestern Medicine

We collaborate with Northwestern Medicine¡¯s neurosurgery and neuromuscular experts in spine, hand, peripheral nerve injury and pulmonary care.

Surgical procedures may include nerve repair, nerve/tendon transfers, free muscle transfer and selective neurectomy, as well as diaphragm pacing and phrenic nerve reconstruction to restore diaphragm function. Before and after surgery at Northwestern Medicine, patients can engage in rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ÊÓƵ.

Our team is comprised of an interdisciplinary team to support patients during their recovery, including doctors with expertise in rehabilitation, neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine, as well as certified hand therapists and physical therapists.

If you are seeking treatment for a complex nerve injury, or if you are a physician looking to refer a patient to our clinic, contact us today at 312.238.7759.

Request an Appointment Refer a patient 

Our research and physician scientists are advancing the study of complex nerve injuries through clinical trials and translational studies ¡ª ranging from nerve regeneration and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) recovery to electrophysiologic and imaging biomarkers of nerve health, therapeutic electrical stimulation, and evidence-based rehabilitation protocols for nerve and SCI care. . If you¡¯re interested in participating in one of our research studies, contact us today.