A medical or surgical brace apparatus (100) for treating a neuropathy and protecting the course of a nerve in a limb of the body. The apparatus comprises a sleeve baselayer (1) formed to fit, or configured to conform to fit, a portion of the limb around a joint and to grip the limb, such that a portion of the sleeve baselayer is proximal to the joint and a portion is distal of the joint and a deformable exoskeleton (3) configured to fit around the joint of a body such that a portion of the exoskeleton is proximal to the joint and a portion is distal of the joint, the exoskeleton comprising a spine (10) and a plurality of ribs (9) coupled to the spine wherein the exoskeleton is coupled to the sleeve baselayer such that when the sleeve baselayer is worn fitted on the limb, the spine of the exoskeleton is aligned with, and arranged to follow, at least part of the course of the nerve, and the ribs are aligned transverse to the course of the nerve to bridge across the nerve to protect it.
