Axillary neuropathy

Background

Axilary nerve

• The axillary nerve supplies innervation to:
  • Deltoid
  • Teres minor
  • Long head of triceps
  • Skin over lateral shoulder
• Injury associated with anterior shoulder dislocation, inferior shoulder dislocation, and proximal humerus fracture

Clinical Features

• 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

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pronator teres syndrome
• Anterior interosseous neuropathy

Ulnar Nerve Syndromes

• Ulnar neuropathy

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

• Brachial plexopathy
  • Parsonage-Turner syndrome
• Cervical radiculopathy

See Also

• Anterior shoulder dislocation
• Peripheral nerve syndromes