Upper Limb Clinical Gross Anatomy Revisited Flashcards
Brachial Plexus Levels
C5-T1
Ulnar Nerve
C8-T1
Median Nerve
C5-T1
Radial Nerve
C5-T1
Erb-Duchene’s Palsy
MOI is injury to C5 and C6 nerve roots or upper trunk due ti traction placed on neck
Widening of angle of separation between head and shoulders, difficult delivery, etc
Paralysis of flexors of the arm, abductors and lateral rotators of the humerus
Waiter’s Tip
Waiter’s Tip Position
Iconic Erb-Duchenne injury
Adducted = abductors are paralyzed
Extended = elbow flexors are paralyzed
Medially Rotated = lateral rotators are paralyzed
Klumpke Injury
Injury to C8-T1 nerve roots or lower trunk of brachial plexus
Catching onself in a hanging position when falling
Paralysis of intrinsic hand muscles
Claw hand (2-5) appearance due to paralyzed muscles (interossei and lumbricals)
Provides balance between powerful extensor and flexor muscles to the fingers
Claw Hand 2-5
Appearance due to paralysis of muscles
Interossei, lumbricals
Provides balance between powerful extensor and flexor muscles of fingers
Klumpke in New Born
Produces flexion and supination of elbow, extension of wrist, hyperextension of the metacarpophalengeal joints
Flexion of interphalangeal joints with claw hand posture
Radial Nerve Injury
Deep branch of radial nerve
Injury to nerve as it exits the axilla or winds around the humerus in the spiral groove (midshaft humeral fracture)
Poor crutch placement, falling asleep with arm over back of chair
Downward dislocation of glenohumeral joint
Why are triceps spared by radial nerve injury in the middle of the arm?
Occurs because at this point the triceps are already innervated
Wrist Drop?
Radial nerve injury
Occurs because of paralysis of wrist extension
Loss of all sensation over the snuff box region
Chronic loss can cause flexion contractures in upper limb (paralysis of extensors and unopposed action of flexors) with complete loss of limb function
Complete Radial Nerve Lesion
Hand cannot be extended (dorsiflexed) because the forearm extensors are paralyzed
Wrist Drop Testing
Testing deep branch of radial nerve (when lesion is partial) by extending MP joints against resistance
When normal the tendons will become prominent on the dorsum of the hand
Ulnar Nerve Injury Sites
Can be compressed at elbow in the cubital tunnel and at wrist in Guyon’s tunnel
Guyon Tunnel Ulnar Nerve Damage
Compression at elbow
Can cause handlebar neuropathy
Ulnar canal syndrome
Ulnar Nerve Injury MOI
Cuts or falls on outstretched palms
Ulnar Nerve deficits if hit at elbow
Flexion of the hand results in radial deviation (abduction) due to paralysis of flexor carpi ulnaris
Wasting of hypothenar eminence and interosseous spaces if prolonged
Ulnar Claw
Clawing of digits 4/5
Clawing will be less severe than wrist injury to ulnar nerve
Elbow injury FDP tendons to 4/5 are nonfunctional
One of the possible “hand of benediction” causes
Elbow Injury Clawing
Will look worse than at wrist
Will not have innervation to FDP to 4/5 digits
Froment’s Sign
Loss of adduction of the thumb
Loss of adductor pollicis muscle due to ulnar injury
Pt. asked to grip piece of paper between thumb and index finger
If thumb flexion is seen this is a positive sign
Wrist Ulnar Claw
This looks worse than damage at the elbow because FDP is functional
Interossei/Lumbrical function
Able to flex the MP joints and extend the IP joints and counterbalance the strong flexors/extensors of the digits
When interossei/lumbricals act on a paralyzed digit the digit will claw because of unopposed forearm muscles (ED and FD)
Clawing opposite of normal function of muscles
Interossei Functions
Flex MP joints and extend the IP joints and counterbalance the strong flexors/extensors of the digits
Function in adduction/abdunction of the digits
Interossei/Lumbrical Clawing
Opposite of normal action
Hyperextended at MP joint and flexed at PIP and DIP joints
Ulnar Nerve Hand Innervation
Innervates medial 2 lumbricals (digit 4/5)
In this case only 4/5 claw
C8-T1 Nerve Injury
Causes Klumpke’s palsy
Can see clawing in digits 2-5
Tinel’s Sign
Percussion of nerve to replicate symptoms of nerve impingement
Can be median nerve at wrist to replicate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms
Could do ulnar nerve at elbow to replicate cubital tunnel syndrome symptoms
Replication = positive finding indicative of impingement
Median Nerve Injury
Occurs at the forearm/wrist
Falling through glass door and cutting wrists