Each peripheral nerve has a unique clinical anatomic signature vis-à-vis motor and sensory deficits when these nerves are compromised. This is illustrated by the seemingly complicated cutaneous sensory distribution of…
MONONEUROPATHY: DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES Sometimes clinical neurologic examination is not precise enough to provide early diagnosis of mononeuropathies. Electrodiagnostic studies are the method of choice for defining the precise anatomic distribution…
The clinical demonstration of weakness and atrophy specific to one of these nerves provides important differential diagnostic clues. Typically, the patient with a primary orthopedic problem, such as a rotator…
Ischemia and endoneurial edema also contribute to the pathology of nerves that sustain chronic compression; modest pressure magnitudes develop, such as occurs with median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel…
The superficial branches are the lesser (minor) occipital, great auricular, transverse (cutaneous) cervical, and supraclavicular nerves. The lesser occipital nerve (C2, C3) curves around the accessory (XI) nerve, ascends near…
Acute neuropathies tend to manifest more with predominant motor manifestations, for instance, peroneal neuropathy—a footdrop, and radial neuropathy—a wristdrop; sensory disturbances are relatively mild. Entrapment neuropathies usually present with paresthesias…
In contrast to the brachial plexus, traumatic lesions of the lumbosacral plexus are relatively uncommon due to its protective location within the pelvis. Injuries such as gunshot wounds, falls, and…
Neuralgic amyotrophy (acute brachial plexitis) is a disorder of acute nerve injury often triggered by an acute infectious illness, immunization, or surgery. It has many potential presentations but usually affects…
Neonatal brachial plexopathy is believed to be secondary to stretching of the plexus by traction, the nerve roots being anchored by the spinal column and cord. Lesion severity depends on…
The plexus formation allows rearrangements of the efferent and afferent somatic and autonomic fibers (the latter reach the roots of the plexus through sympathetic rami communicantes) so that they are…
