Brachial Plexus injury Flashcards
Which spinal roots are injured in upper brachial plexus injury?
C5, C6
Describe the sensory loss in an upper brachial plexus injury.
C5/C6 dermatome - lateral arm and forearm
Which muscles will be affected in upper brachial plexus injury?
Supraspinatus Infraspinatus Deltoid Biceps brachii Coracobrachialis Teres minor
What movements will be affected by upper brachial plexus injury?
Abduction
Lateral rotation
Flexion of arm and forearm
Supination
How will the limb be positioned in upper brachial plexus injury?
Waiter’s tip/Erb’s
Limp hangs limply due to loss of flexion and abduction.
Limb is medially rotated.
Forearm is pronated
Which roots are damaged in lower brachial plexus injury?
C8 T1
Give causes of lower brachial plexus injury
Sudden superior movement of upper limb or excessive abduction.
Monkey grab ledge to break fall, yanked out of birth canal.
Give the sensory loss in lower brachial plexus injury
T1 and C8 dermatome
Medial forearm
Medial hand
Which motor muscle functions are lost in lower brachial plexus injury?
All intrinsically muscles of the hand
What movements occur in lower brachial plexus injury?
Hyperextension for MCP - unopposed action of ED
Flexion of IP - unopposed action of FDS and FDP
How is the hand positioned in lower brachial plexus injury
Klumpke’s palsy
Total claw when trying to form fist
Describe how upper brachial plexus injury occurs.
Give two causes.
Excessive movement of the head to the opposite side with depression of shoulder on the same side of injury.
Motorcycle crash.
Narrow birth canal.
