Case 102 Brachial Plexus Injury and Horner Syndrome
Clinical Presentation
- A 35-year-old woman was an unrestrained driver in a car accident. She struck her shoulder against the steering wheel, which caused right-arm weakness and numbness.
- She is unable to raise the arm or flex at the elbow.
- Painful paresthesias and numbness in the thumb and index finger have also been present since the accident.
- Imaging revealed no fractures or rotator cuff tears. Despite physical therapy, she has had no evidence of recovery in the 3 months since the accident.
- On examination, she has atrophy of the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and biceps muscles. She cannot flex, abduct, or externally rotate the arm at the shoulder joint. She also cannot flex at the elbow or supinate the forearm.
- The rest of her arm and hand muscles are full strength.
- She has numbness along the radial forearm and hand, including the thumb and index finger.
- She has a positive Tinel’s sign in the right supraclavicular space that radiates to the index finger.
Questions
Answers
Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue
