Nerve injuries

Question 1

What would be seen in a Radial Nerve Injury - Humeral Level? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 1

Wrist drop; often fractures of the humerus

Question 2

What would be seen in a Lumbar Plexus Injury? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 2

Loss of innervation L1-L4, difficulty with LE movement and trunk control;
no typical MOI bc it is so deep, but compression, cut/sever, improper nerve block dosage can cause this

Question 3

What would be seen in a Lower Brachial Plexus Injury? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 3

loss of innervation C8-T1, Horner’s syndrome; caused by widening of the angle between the arm and chest wall through forced arm abduction (traumatic vaginal injury where arm was pulled [Klumpke’s paralysis]

Question 4

What would be seen in an Upper Brachial Plexus Injury? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 4

loss of innervation at C5-C7 levels;

can happen during birth due to pull on head, falls, MVAs

Question 5

What would be seen in a Median Nerve Injury? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 5

Ape hand deformity and hand of benedictions (bishop’s hand), thenar atrophy;
commonly entrapped in carpal tunnel, supracondylar fracture of humerus

Question 6

What would be seen in an Ulnar Nerve Injury? common mechanism of injury?

Answer 6

Claw hand;

fracture, or impingement at thoracic outlet, cubital tunnel or ulnar tunnel