Brachial Plexus Lesions

Question 1

What happens if the long thoracic nerve is damaged?

Answer 1

winged scapula and inability to raise the arm over the head

Question 2

When does the long thoracic nerve get damaged?

Answer 2

mastectomy

Question 3

What happens if the suprascapular nerve is damaged?

Answer 3

loss of supra and infraspinatus (weakness on abduction, lateral rotation)

Question 4

What happens if the thoracodorsal nerve is damaged?

Answer 4

weakness of lats (adduction, internal rotation, extension)

Question 5

What happens if the axillary nerve is damaged?

Answer 5

loss of shoulder contour, limited abduction, lateral rotation

Question 6

When does the axillary nerve get damaged?

Answer 6

surgical neck fractures, shoulder dislocations

Question 7

What happens if the musculocutaneous nerve is damaged?

Answer 7

loss of flexion of elbow, supination, forearm sensation

Question 8

Where are upper brachial plexus lesions?

Answer 8

C5, C6 roots

Question 9

Where are lower brachial plexus lesions?

Answer 9

C8, T1 roots

Question 10

How do upper brachial plexus lesions occur?

Answer 10

excessive strain between head and shoulder

Question 11

What are common MOI for upper brachial plexus injuries?

Answer 11

football, childbirth, motorcycle accident

Question 12

How does Erb’s Palsy present?

Answer 12

paralysis of deltoid, supra/infraspinatus, biceps, brachioradialis, supinator
adducted, int rotated, pronated limb

Question 13

How do lower brachial plexus injuries occur?

Answer 13

limb being pulled superiorly

Question 14

How does Klumpke Palsy present?

Answer 14

atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles

sensory loss over medial arm/hand

Question 15

What are common MOI for lower brachial plexus injuries?

Answer 15

childbirth, grabbing a limb to break a fall

Question 16

How do high median nerve injuries present?

Answer 16

weakening of anterior forearm muscles and lateral hand muscles
can’t flex first 3 fingers
ape hand

Question 17

How do high median nerve injuries occur?

Answer 17

condylar humeral fractures (cubital fossa)

Question 18

How does radial nerve injury present?

Answer 18

wrist drop
pronation
loss of sensation between thumb and index finger

Question 19

How do ulnar nerve lesions present?

Answer 19

weakened intrinsic hand muscles
sensory loss to fingers 4-5
can’t flex fingers 4-5

Question 20

What nerve roots innervate these muscles:
spine to scapula?
scapulohumeral?
anterior arm?
posterior arm?
hand?
posterior forearm?
superficial anterior forearm?
deep anterior forearm?
brachioradialis and supinator?

Answer 20

C5
C5-6
C5-6
C6-8
C8-T1
C6-8
C6-8
C8-T1
C5-6