Nerve Injuries Flashcards
What is the most common post-op peripheral neuropathy?
Ulnar nerve
Injury of ulnar nerve causes…
Inability to abduct or oppose the 5th finger
Decreased sensation over both surfaces of the ring and pinky fingers
“Claw hand” deformity
What is the second most common post-op neurologic injury?
Brachial plexus injury
Injury to radial nerve causes…
Wrist drop
Inability to extend the metacarpophalangeal joints
Weakness in abduction of the thumb
Decreased sensation over dorsal surfaces of the lateral 3.5 fingers
Injury to median nerve causes…
Inability to oppose the first and fifth digits
Decreased sensation on the palmar surface of the lateral 3.5 fingers
“Ape hand” deformity
Injury to musculocutaneous nerve causes…
Inability to flex arm
Decreased sensation over the ventral surface of the forearm
Injury to the sciatic nerve causes…
Foot drop
Weak muscles below the knee
Decreased sensation over the lateral half of the leg and almost all the foot
What is the most frequently damaged nerve in the LE?
Common peroneal nerve
*Lithotomy and lateral position
Injury of the common peroneal nerve causes…
Foot drop
Loss of dorsal extension of toes
Inability to evert the foot
Injury of the femoral nerve causes…
Decreased or absent knee jerk reflex
Loss of flexion of hip
Loss of extension of knee
Decreased sensation over the superior, medial, and anteromedial aspect of the leg
Suspect ______ in patients who develop a femoral neuropathy.
Diabetes
Injury of the obturator nerve causes…
Inability to adduct the leg
Decreased sensation over the medial aspect of the thigh
What 3 nerve injuries can cause foot drop?
- Sciatic nerve injury
- Common peroneal nerve injury
- Anterior tibial nerve injury
What nerves may be damaged during face mask ventilation?
Buccal branch of the Facial nerve (CN 7)
Supraorbital branch of the Trigeminal nerve (CN 5)
The lawn chair position prevents injury to what nerve?
Sciatic nerve
For a patient in steep T-burg, what is the most likely nerve injury?
Brachial plexus
Injury to bilateral hypoglossal nerves causes…
Difficulty with speech and swallowing
The patient’s foot has been placed in plantar flexion for an extended period of time. What nerve is commonly injured in this scenario?
Tibial
Steep T-burg
Decrease Pulmonary compliance TLC VC FRC CO
Increase Zone 3 or 4 VR CVP Pulmonary BF ICP
What position most decreases FRC and pulmonary compliance?
T-burg
Why is pulmonary edema a complication in the patient placed in the steep T-burg position?
The most common cause of pulmonary edema is an elevated LA pressure, which is transmitted back to the pulmonary capillaries
What happens to FRC when awake healthy patients shift from the supine to the prone position?
FRC increases
Position change: Upright to supine
What happens to: TLC, RV, TV, FRC, ERV, IRV, CV
RV, TV, TLC, CC, CV - do NOT change significantly
FRC, ERV - decreases
IRV - increase
The least amount of physiological compromise occurs in what position?
Supine
How many fingerbreadths of space should be between the chin and sternum?
2
*Excessive flexion obstructs venous and lymphatic outflow
Elevation of the kidney rest compresses which structure and leads to what response?
IVC
Decreased VR and BP
Placement of the head and neck at the limits of motion may produce anatomic changes that compress the…
Vertebral arteries
