Axillary neuropathy
Background
- The axillary nerve supplies innervation to:
- Deltoid
- Teres minor
- Long head of triceps
- Skin over lateral shoulder
Clinical Features
- Injury associated with the following injuries:
- Weak arm abduction (from 15 to 90 degrees)
- Weak shoulder flexion, extension and rotation of shoulder
- Decreased sensation of upper lateral arm (over deltoid)
Differential Diagnosis
Upper extremity peripheral nerve syndromes
Median Nerve Syndromes
Ulnar Nerve Syndromes
Radial Nerve Syndromes
- Radial neuropathy at the spiral groove (ie. "Saturday night palsy")
- Posterior interosseous neuropathy
Proximal Neuropathies
- Suprascapular neuropathy
- Long thoracic neuropathy
- Axillary neuropathy
- Spinal accessory neuropathy
- Musculocutaneous neuropathy
Other
Evaluation
- Typically a clinical diagnosis in the ED