Nerve Palsies of the Limbs Flashcards
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel due to inflammation of nearby tendons and tissues, resulting in oedema
What sex is more commonly affected by carpal tunnel syndrome?
F>M
What age group is most commonly affected by carpal tunnel syndrome?
40-60s
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Idiopathic
High BMI
Smoking
Pregnancy
RA, most common association with carpal tunnel syndrome
Trauma/distal radial fracture
Lunate fracture
How does carpal tunnel syndrome present?
Paraesthesia, mainly in thumb, middle and index fingers, but can radiate up the forearm
Pain can worsen at night and shakes hand to obtain relief
Weakness in the hand of thumb abduction/abductor pollicis brevis
Wasting of thenar eminence
Bilateral symptoms as usually due to stressor such as typing
What tests can be used in carpal tunel diagnosis?
Phalen’s
Tinel’s
- Tapping transverse carpal ligament to initiate symptoms
How is carpal tunnel syndrome managed?
Lifestyle modification
Wrist splints at night
Corticosteroid injection
Surgical decompression (flexor retinaculum division)
What is Erb’s palsy?
Compression of upper trunk (C5/C6)
What muscles are affected in Erbs palsy?
Biceps brachii, Brachialis, coracobrachialis (Musculocutaneous/C5-C7)
Deltoid (Axillary/C5-C6)
Brachioradialis (Radial/C5-T1)
How does Erbs palsy present?
Waiter’s Tip
- Arm adducted and internally rotated
- Elbow extended and pronated
- Wrist flexed
What is Klumpke’s palsy?
Compression of lower trunk (C8/T1)
How does Klumpkes present?
Claw hand
What muscles are affected in Klumpkes?
Intrinsic muscles of hand
What causes axillary nerve damage?
Humeral neck fracture
Shoulder dislocation
Saturday night palsy (pressure on posterior cord of brachial plexus
How does axillary nerve damage present?
Loss of shoulder abduction/deltoid
Loss of sensation in badge area
What are the roots of the radial nerve?
C5,6,7,8,T1
What causes radial nerve damage?
Very high lesions, causing wrist drop and tricep lesion
- Saturday night palsy
- Crutches
High lesions, wrist drop and reduced sensation in snuffbox
- Humeral shaft fracture
Low lesions, finger drop with no sensory loss
- Forearm fracture
How does radial nerve damage present?
Wrist drop extensors
Sensory deficit in 1st web space dorsally