Brachial plexus injury: Difference between revisions
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
[[File:Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - anterior.png|thumb|Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - anterior]] | |||
[[File:Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - posterior.png|thumb|Dermatomes and cutaneous nerves - posterior]] | |||
*Injuries can be penetrating, compression, or closed traction: | *Injuries can be penetrating, compression, or closed traction: | ||
**Supraclavicular (roots and trunks) | **Supraclavicular (roots and trunks) | ||
**Infraclavicular (cords and terminal nerves) | **Infraclavicular (cords and terminal nerves) | ||
===Anatomy<ref>Tintinalli. Emergency Medicine. 7th Edition, 2011.</ref>=== | |||
*Roots: | |||
**C4 | |||
**C5 | |||
**C6 | |||
**C7 | |||
**T1 | |||
*Trunks: | |||
**Upper | |||
**Middle | |||
**Lower | |||
*Cords: | |||
**Lateral | |||
**Posterior | |||
**Medial | |||
*Terminal Nerves: | |||
**Musculocutaneous | |||
**Median | |||
**Axillary | |||
**Radial | |||
**Ulnar | |||
==Clinical Features== | ==Clinical Features== | ||
Revision as of 01:34, 28 September 2015
Background
- Injuries can be penetrating, compression, or closed traction:
- Supraclavicular (roots and trunks)
- Infraclavicular (cords and terminal nerves)
Anatomy[1]
- Roots:
- C4
- C5
- C6
- C7
- T1
- Trunks:
- Upper
- Middle
- Lower
- Cords:
- Lateral
- Posterior
- Medial
- Terminal Nerves:
- Musculocutaneous
- Median
- Axillary
- Radial
- Ulnar
Clinical Features
- Arm pain (constant, burning)
- C5 injury:
- weakness of deltoid and infraspinatus causes adducted, internally rotated shoulder
- C6 injury:
- weakness of biceps causes elbow extension
- C7 injury:
- weakness of extensor muscles causes wrist and digit flexion
Differential Diagnosis
Diagnosis
- MRI
- CT myelography
- EMG
- Surgical exploration
Management
- Early neurosurgical consultation
- PT / OT
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Tintinalli. Emergency Medicine. 7th Edition, 2011.