nerve Flashcards
TMR transfers
hand closing: Median -> short head biceps
hand opening: radial -> lateral head triceps
ulnar -> brachialis (if long limb)
musculocutaneous -> lateral biceps (native)
digit and wrist extension: proximal radial -> long head triceps (native)
brachial plexus birth palsy nerve involvement
C5-C6 affects deltoid, rotator cuff, biceps, ECRL, ECRB (erbs palsy)
C7 triceps, ECU and finger flexion (waiters tip)
C5-T1 flaccid arm
global injury with horners syndrome from sympathetic chain involvement has poor prognosis (indicates avulsion). will have ptosis.
prognosis brachial plexus birth palsy
70-80% full recovery
Antigravity elbow flexion <3 months then full recovery
> 6 months no recovery then need surgery
global injury the surgery early
treatment brachial plexus birth palsy
neuroma excision with sural nerve graft
nerve transfers
contractures in brachial plexus birth palsy
shoulder abduction, internal rotation, elbow flexion and supination contractures
glenohumeral dysplasia
- treat supination contracture with biceps rerouting
- treat elbow contracture with bracing
scapular winging
medial scapular winging - long thoracic nerve and serratus anterior muscle. Nerve arises from nerve root so injury suggests preganglionic. C5, C6 and C7.
lateral scapular winging - trapezius and/or rhomboid dysfunction
scratch collapse test
peripheral nerve can experience allodynia with external stimulus applied at or near an area of compression or injury -> temporary inhibition of tonic muscle contraction called “cutaneous silent period”. May be through inhibitory spinal reflex.
radial nerve anatomy
C5-T1
deep motor branch and superficial sensory in forearm
motor gives off ECRB before Arcade of Frohse (supinator arch) to become PIN.
motor branch median nerve
most common three terminal branches to APB, OP and FPB but variability
hoffmans sign
hold long finger in extension and snap fingernail into flexion. If spontaneous flexion index and adduction of thumb then upper motor neuron injury.
muscular dystrophy
- genetic disease of muscle (not nerve)
- progressive wasting and hypotonia
myasthenia gravis
- autoimmune disorder of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
- weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control
stain motor axons
acetylcholine esterase
stain sensory axons
carbonic anhydrase
conduit indications
<3mm gap (better if less than 1.5mm)
tend to collapse
major mixed nerve defect
sural nerve cable graft
CT myleogram/MRI in brachial plexus
3-4 weeks after injury can detect pseudomeningocele if avulsion injury
associated injuries with brachial plexus
- rotator cuff 10%
- spinal cord 10%
- SAN 6%
- vascular 20%
- rib fracture (92% still have function intercostal nerve function)
surgery timing brachial plexus
3-6 months ideal
18 months before motor end plates degenerate
options for elbow flexion
- ulnar/median fascicle to biceps/brachialis branch
- graft C6 to anterior trunk or MCN
- intercostal to MCN
- SAN to MCN
- free gracilis
options for shoulder abduction and external rotation
abduction - triceps to anterior branch of axillary nerve - graft C5 to posterior division of upper trunk - graft C5 to posterior cord - graft C5 to axillary nerve - medial pectoral to axillary nerve external rotation - SAN to suprascapular nerve
reconstruct grasp
- free gracilis to FDP
reconstruct elbow extension
- intercostal to triceps
- SAN to triceps
risk factors compression neuorpathy
- DM
- hypothyroid
- obesity
- recent menopause
- trauma (DRF)
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- inflammatory arthritis (RA, gout)
median nerve anatomy
- run with brachial artery through the arm (no branches before the elbow)
- medial to brachial artery at the elbow
- splits 2 heads of pronator teres
- between FDS and FDP
- palmar cutaneous branch proximal to carpal tunnel (5-6 cm proximal to wrist crease)
- motor branch runs radially to the thenar muscles
carpal tunnel syndrome
- 0.1-10% of the population
- distal sensory latency >3.6ms
- motor latencies >4.2ms
- steroid injection 22% symptom free at 12 month, 40-80% short symptom improvement
- revision surgery 50% get relief