Brachial plexus injury: Difference between revisions

Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
==Background==
*Anatomy:
*Anatomy:<ref>Tintinalli. Emergency Medicine. 7th Edition, 2011.</ref>
**Roots:
**Roots:
***C4
***C4

Revision as of 23:43, 14 September 2015

Background

  • Anatomy:[1]
    • Roots:
      • C4
      • C5
      • C6
      • C7
      • T1
    • Trunks:
      • Upper
      • Middle
      • Lower
    • Cords:
      • Lateral
      • Posterior
      • Medial
    • Terminal Nerves:
      • Musculocutaneous
      • Median
      • Axillary
      • Radial
      • Ulnar
  • Injuries can be penetrating, compression, or closed traction:
    • Supraclavicular (roots and trunks)
    • Infraclavicular (cords and terminal nerves)

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

  1. Tintinalli. Emergency Medicine. 7th Edition, 2011.