Nerve Palsies in the Limb Flashcards
What are the myotomes for the following spinal levels?
C5,6,7 and 8
T1
L2,3,4,5
S1
C5 = elbow flexors
C6 = Wrist extensors
C7 = Elbow extensors
C8 = Finger extensors
T1 = Intrinsic hand muscles
L2 = Hip flexors
L3 = Knee extensors
L4 = Ankle dorsiflexion
L5 = Long toe extensors
S1 = Ankle plantar flexors
What are the palsies of the upper limb?
Erb’s palsies
Klumpke’s palsy
Total brachial plexus palsy
What is the cause of palsy of the axillary nerve?
Secondary to trauma
What is the cause of palsy of the radial nerve?
Radial nerve palsy secondary to compression or entrapment
What is the cause of medial nerve palsy?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
What is the cause of ulnar nerve palsy?
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Here is the brachial plexus
What nerves are involved in erbs palsy, klumpke’s palsy and total brachial plexus palsy?
- Upper Brachial Plexus (C5,6): Erb’s Palsy - sometimes involvement of C7
- Lower Brachial Plexus (C8, T1): Klumpke’s (very rare!)
- Total Brachial Plexus (C5- T1)
What is a common cause of erbs palsy?
Dystocia - an abnormal or difficult childbirth
What is the presentation of erbs palsy?
Arm is in waiter tip position
Loss of sensation of the arm
Atrophy of deltoid, biceps, and brachialis muscles.
What causes Klumpke’s palsy?
Risk of injury to the lower brachial plexus results from traction on an abducted arm, as with an infant being pulled from the birth canal by an extended arm above the head or with someone catching themselves by a branch as they fall from a tree.
Which muscle does the musculocutaneous nerve pierce?
Pierces the coracobrachialis
(It then runs between the biceps and brachialis to supply them both
Which nerve gives supply to the elbow joint?
Musculocutaneous nerve
What does the musculocutaneous nerve continue as?
The lateral cutaneous nerve to the forearm
What is Hilton’s law?
A sensory nerve supplying a JOINT also supplies the MUSCLES
moving the joint and the SKIN overlying the insertions of these muscles
Which cord is the axillary nerve?
Posterior cord
Which part of the humerus is the axillary nerve associated with?
It wraps around the surgical neck of the humerus
Which muscles are supplied by the axillary nerve?
Deltoid
Teres minor
(also supplies the skin over the regimental badge area)
What are the nerve values for the axillary nerve?
C5 and C6
What injuries can result in axillary nerve palsy?
Shoulder dislocation
Fracture of surgical neck of humerus
Which muscles does the radial nerve supply?
The triceps
Which part of the humerus is the radial nerve assocaited with?
Radial nerve runs in the radial groove of the humerus as it passes from medial to lateral.