Brachial plexus injuries can occur in both children during difficult births when the baby's shoulders become impacted and in adults from high-energy trauma to the neck or shoulder region. These injuries range from nerve stretch to complete avulsion and are evaluated based on neurological exam and special tests to determine the specific roots or trunks injured and appropriate treatment. Management may involve conservative therapy, surgery to repair or graft injured nerves, or tendon transfers for permanent nerve damage.
SOURCES: Straight A's Medical Surgical Nursing and Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts and Clinical Application 2nd Edition by Josie Quiambao-Udan RN, MAN
SOURCES: Straight A's Medical Surgical Nursing and Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts and Clinical Application 2nd Edition by Josie Quiambao-Udan RN, MAN
Can read freely here
https://sethiortho.blogspot.com/
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Neurovascular symptoms in the upper extremities due to pressure on the nerves and vessels in the thoracic outlet area
The specific structures compressed are usually the nerves of the branchial plexus and occasionally the subclavian artery or subclavian vein
Anatomy
Thoracic outlet
Entrance/ Exit region of the upper limb
The thoracic outlet is defined as the interval from the supraclavicular fossa to the axilla that passes between the clavicle and the first rib
Anatomy - Scalane triangle
Anatomy of the costoclavicular space
Pectoralis minor space
Located inferior to the coracoid process
anterior to the second through fourth ribs
posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle
The cords of the brachial plexus
Axillary artery
Axillary vein.
Soft-tissue Causes (70%)
Scalene muscle
Variations in insertion
Hypertrophy
Accessory scalenus minimus muscle
Anomalous ligaments or bands
Soft-tissue tumors
Osseous Causes
Cervical rib
Prominent C7 transverse process
Displacement or callus from first rib fracture
Malunited clavicle or first rib fracture
AC or SC joint injury or dislocation
Osseous tumor
Poor posture
Drooping the shoulders
Holding the head in a forward position
Repetitive activity
Athletes and swimmers
Neurogenic TOS
Compression – scalene triangle and costoclavicular space
May be associated with normal anatomy
Traction of the lowest trunk of the brachial plexus
Often in association with arterial TOS
Features of Lower brachial plexus compression - Common
Female predominance
Appearance of Amedio Modigliani painting
Complains of pain and paresthesia extending from the shoulder /down the ulnar aspect of the arm into the medial two fingers
Neurogenic TOS
Upper brachial plexus compression C5,C6 and C7
Less common
Compression mainly occurs in scalene triangle
Symptoms
Unilateral occipito-frontal headache
Facial or jaw pain
The Gilliatt-Sumner hand
A characteristic finding of neurogenic TOS, is described as atrophy of the abductor pollicis brevis and, to a lesser degree, the hypothenar musculature and the interossei.
Venous TOS
Causes
Hypertrophy of the subclavius muscle,
Chondroma formation
Clinical presentation
Most patients are sportsmen, musicians or manual workers undertaking repetitive arm movements.
The condition occurs more commonly in the dominant limb
Male predominance
Clinical presentation
Acute presentation -
Swollen and tensed upper limb
Upper limb aching pain
blueish- purple arm due to venous engorgement
Collateral veins may be visible
Feeling of heaviness that is worse after activity
Symptoms are precipitated by working with the arms elevated and are relieved by dependency, a pathognomonic feature of vTOS.
Arterial TOS
Rare but has more devastating consequences
Caused by
Intermittent subclavian arterial compression - Costoclavicular compression with normal anatomy.
1.Anatomy
a.Course
b.Motor distribution
c.Sensory distribution
2.Common sites affected
3.Level of median nerve injury
4.Clinical feature with various test performed
5.Various syndromes related to median nerve
6.Treatment
7.Summary
Spinal cord injuries complete topic about it and how to make good rehabilitation for the patient with spinal cord injuries .
wish it help people
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Mostafa shakshak
Surgical anatomy of nerve and vascular injuries in the upper limbAkram Jaffar
After completion of this session, students should be able to discuss, identify, and describe:
Nerve injuries:
The anatomical factors predisposing to nerve injuries.
The anatomy of deformity, weakness and sensory loss following the nerve injury.
The applied anatomy of clinical examination for specific nerves.
Surgical anatomy of treating nerve injuries.
The following nerve injuries are discussed:
Upper limb: upper brachial plexus; lower brachial plexus; long thoracic nerve; axillary nerve; median nerve; ulnar nerve; radial nerve.
Vascular injuries:
Collateral circulation and its significance in maintaining the arterial supply after occlusion of a major artery.
The following collateral circulations are described:
Scapular anastomosis in relation to axillary and subclavian artery obstruction.
Anastomosis around the elbow in relation to brachial artery obstruction.
3. Contents
• Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus
• Mechanisms of Brachial Plexus Injury
and Pathologies
• Neurological Evaluation for the Brachial Plexus
and Related Special Tests
4.
5. Paediatric Injuries
History
• 1764 Obstetrical brachial palsy described by
Smellie.
• 1874 Wilhelm H. Erb described brachial plexus
paralysis in adults which involved the upper roots
and described certain types of “delivery
paralysis”. He credited Duchenne for describing
the brachial palsy following delivery in affected
newborns.
• 1885 Augusta Klumpke first described the clinical
picture resulting from injury to lower roots.
6. Paediatric Injuries
• Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus
injuries happen when a baby's shoulders become impacted during
delivery and the brachial plexus nerves stretch or tear.
• Assoc with: large baby, difficult delivery, gestational diabetes,
polyhydramnios, older mum
• Incidence = 0.5 to 1.9 per 1000 live births (Bar et al 2001); Brachial
plexus palsy occurs in 26% of cases of shoulder dystocia; 90% Erb
palsy
• Most common on the right side because the most common delivery
presentation is left occiput anterior vertex.
• Newborns with BP injuries have a higher incidence of low Apgar
scores of less than 7 at 1 and 5 mins and of asphyxia than matched
controls
7. Paediatric Injuries
• Types of brachial plexus injuries:
– avulsion, the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine
– rupture, in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment
– neuroma, in which the nerve has torn and healed but scar tissue puts pressure on the injured nerve
and prevents it from conducting signals to the muscles
– neuropraxia or stretch, in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn; most common type of
brachial plexus injury
• Treatment:
– Conservative: Many children who are injured during birth improve or recover by 3 to 4 months of
age. Treatment for brachial plexus injuries includes physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery.
• Prognosis: The site and type of brachial plexus injury determines the prognosis. For avulsion
and rupture injuries, there is no potential for recovery unless surgical reconnection is made in
a timely manner. The potential for recovery varies for neuroma and neuropraxia injuries.
Most individuals with neuropraxia injuries recover spontaneously with a 90-100% return of
function.
8. Paediatric Injuries
What is your management of the obstetric brachial plexus injury?
• History: Large baby; difficult delivery; shoulder distocia; maternal DM
• Examination: try to determine level
– At bith: look at upper limb posture
– At 3/12: look for elbow flexion (sign of recovery)
– When older ask them to take off shirt and watch
• Investigations: MRI, myelogram
• Management:
– Physio: passive stretch; maitain FPROM; prevent contractures
– Surgery at 3/12 (20%): explore neck via L-shaped incision in posterior triangle; nerve
graft vsneurolysis (give preference to lower roots, so they develop hand and elbow
function)
– Surgery at 8 yrs: tendon transfers
9. Observe Posture and Movements
• Baby will just lie there! Ask mum if both arms
move / twitch. Dangle some keys to see if it
will reach out?
Baby will just lie there! Ask mum if both arms
move / twitch. Dangle some keys to see if it This child can not reach up!
will reach out?
10. Observe Posture and Movements
• Get child to undress
and see how he gets on
• Comment on what u
see!
11. Brachial Plexus Injury: Adults
• High-energy trauma to the upper extremity and neck causes a
variety of lesions to the brachial plexus.
• The common mechanism is violent distraction of the entire
forequarter from the rest of the body ie motorcycle accident or a
high-speed motor vehicle accident. A fall from a significant height
may also result in brachial plexus injury.
• Sports most commonly associated with brachial plexus injuries
include: Am football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, fencing,
wrestling, and gymnastics
• Nerve injuries can result from blunt force trauma, poor posture, or
chronic repetitive stress
• Patients generally present with pain and/or muscle weakness
• Over time, some patients may experience muscle atrophy
• Loss of useful function of the upper extremity is common
12. Mechanisms of
Injury to the Brachial Plexus
A. Traction: direct blow to the shoulder
with the neck laterally flexed toward
the unaffected shoulder (gymnast
falls on beam)
B. Direct trauma: direct blow to the
supraclavicularfossa over Erb’s point
• C. Cervical Nerve Compression:
Occurs when the neck is flexed
laterally toward the patient’s affected
shoulder, compressing / irritating the
nerves, resulting in point tenderness
over involved vertebrae of affected
nerve(s)
• (Troub, 2001)
16. Grades of Injury
• Grade 1 – Neuropraxia
– Disruption in nerve function that produces numbness and tingling
– Most common grade within athletics
– Symptoms usually resolve within several minutes
• Grade 2 – Axonotmesis
– Damage to the nerve’s axon
– Symptoms = numbness, tingling, and affected function (may last several days)
– Long nerves have a greater healing time than short nerves
– Rare within athletics
• Grade 3 – Neurotmesis
– Permanent nerve damage occurs
– Very rare within athletics
– “Occurs with high-energy trauma, fractures, and penetrating injuries”
17. Adult Brachial Plexus Injury
How do you Rx the patient knocked off his motorcycle
with clavicle # and flail arm?
• Manage acute injury according to ATLS principles;
look for concomitant injury iec-spine.
• History
– Age, handedness, occupation, special skills
– Cause of injury: arm hyperabductedvs neck laterally flexed
– Immediate or delayed arm weakness
– Concomitant injury
– General health: PMH, DH, Smoker
18. Adult Brachial Plexus Injury
Examination (use pre-printed brachial plexus diagrams): determine level
• Look at face: does he have Horner’s? (=lower root lesion C8 T1)
• Undress upper torso
• Look from front at posture of arm, scars, muscle wasting, asymmetry/swelling
• Look at back again for scars, muscle wasting, asymmetry
– Test sp. Accessory n (shrug shoulders)
– Supraspinatus responsible for 1st 20 of shoulder abduction (resisted arm abduction)
– Rhomboids (touch back of head)
– Lat dorsi (press both hands into hips and cough)
• Look at vascularity of arm
• Check sensation both upper limbs (root levels)
• Check movement both upper limbs from shoulder to fingers (AROM + PROM)
• Reflexes
• Function of phrenic nerve
21. Examination
• LOOK, FEEL, MOVE (Talk as you are doing)
• Manage according to EMST/ATLS in acute
setting. Abrasions to the head, helmet, or tip
of the shoulder suggest supraclavicular injury.
• Look at the face: Ptosis, myosis and anhydrosis
(Horner syndrome) suggest a complete lower
plexus lesion
22. Examine the Back
Wall test for serratus ant (winging scapula)
Note weak trapezius (asymmetric shrug)
23. Examine the Back
• Swelling about the shoulder can be dramatic.
Diminished or absent pulses suggest vascular
injury, and special consideration should be
given to rupture of the subclavian vessels.
Clavicle fractures are often palpable. Careful
inspection and palpation of the axial skeleton
may reveal concomitant injuries. Examine
each cervical root individually for motor and
sensory function as soon as circumstances
allow.
24. Examine the Back
Photograph showing patient with left shoulder
subluxation resulting from a flail arm caused
by C5–T1 lesions. Note the left deltoid, supra-,
and infraspinatus muscle atrophy
29. Related Special Tests
Brachial Plexus Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Cervical Compression • Adson’s Test
Test
• Cervical Distraction Test
• Allen’s Test
• Spurling’s Test • Military Brace Position
• Brachial Plexus Traction
Test
30. Peripheral Nerve Tests
Axillary N. Radial N.
• Sensory – Lateral arm • Sensory – 1st Dorsal web
• Motor – Shoulder abduction space
Musculocutaneous N. • Motor – Wrist extension
• Sensory – Anterior arm and thumb extension
• Motor – Elbow flexion Median N.
• Sensory – Pad of Index
finger
• Motor – Thumb pinch and
abduction
Ulnar N.
• Sensory – Pad of little finger
• Motor – Finger abduction
31. Reflex Tests
• C5 – Biceps brachii reflex (anterior arm near
antecubitalfossa)
• C6 – Brachioradialis reflex (lateral aspect of
forearm)
• C7 – Triceps brachii reflex (at insertion of
tricepbrachii)
• C8 and T1 do not have reflex tests
32. Investigations
Imaging: Xray: AP chest (look for teeth and fractures ), AP + lat views
shoulder, C-Spine (AP, lat, odontoid peg), Fine-cut CT, MRI
33. Investigations
• Sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs): differentiate
preganglionic from postganglionic injuries.
• Electromyography (EMG): In the first week after injury,
EMG cannot be used to exclude a complete disruption
unless voluntary motor unit action potentials are
observed. If no signs of denervation are present in a
paralyzed muscle by 3 weeks after injury, EMG can be
used to confirm a neuropraxia.
• Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs): In general,
SNAPs are more reliable than SSEPs. Many difficulties
exist with SSEPs, and they are not widely used.
34. Management
• Medical: MDT
– physio: maintain supple joints with FROM
– Orthoptists / splinting
– Pain control
• Surgical options:
– nerve transfers
– nerve grafting
– muscle transfers
– free muscle transfers
– neurolysis of scar in incomplete lesions
– Arthrodesis to stabilise joints
35. Management
Surgical options: Immediate vs delayed (timing contraversial)
– Indications for Surgery at time of injury
• Open injury
• High energy injury
• Supraclavicular injury
• Associated depressed clavicle fracture
:explore and immediate repair / nerve grafts
– Surgery 3/12 post injury IF CLOSED (and no sign recovery): nerve grafts
(if not done B4); nerve transfer if supraganglionic
– Surgery >1 year post injury: local or free muscle transfer starting at
proximal joint (eg 2-stage reconstruction with sural nerve cross-thorax
graft, attached to nerve to pec minor or long thoracic, then free
contralat LD)
36. Planning for Reconstruction
• What is the loss?
• What is the need?
• What is possible?
• What is available?
• What are the other injuries?
• Is later surgery needed and what can be done
now?
37. What is the loss?
• Shoulder motion
• Shoulder stability
• Elbow flexion
• Wrist and hand function
• Sensation
• Pain
• Trophic changes
• Body image
38. What is available?
• Primary repair: Very rare
• Neurolysis only with late surgery
• Plexus anatomical cable grafting
• Nerve transfers
– Accessory nerve
– Cervical plexus
– Phrenic nerve
– Intercostal nerves
– Ulnar ECU nerve
– Crossed C7
– Hypoglossal nerve
• Nerve grafts
– Sural
– medial cutaneous forearm
– ulnar (vascularised)