Upper Limb Nerve Injuries Flashcards
Approach to a Neurological problem (3)
- Anatomically localise the lesion.
- Consider the pathophysiology
- Differential diagnosis
Approach to a Neurological problem
- Anatomically localise the …
- Consider the …
- … diagnosis
- Anatomically localise the lesion.
- Consider the pathophysiology
- Differential diagnosis
Upper Motor Neuron vs Lower Motor Neuron
- Lesion between nerve starting at … cortex and where it synapses at the … … cell = upper motor neuron
- Lower motor neuron = arises from the … … cell
- Lesion between nerve starting at motor cortex and where it synapses at the anterior horn cell = upper motor neuron
- Lower motor neuron = arises from the anterior horn cell
Upper Motor Neuron vs Lower Motor Neuron
- Lesion between nerve starting at motor cortex and where it synapses at the anterior horn cell = … motor neuron
- … motor neuron = arises from the anterior horn cell
- Lesion between nerve starting at motor cortex and where it synapses at the anterior horn cell = upper motor neuron
- Lower motor neuron = arises from the anterior horn cell
UMN vs LMN in the upper limb
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- … tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- … reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- … tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- … reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
UMN vs LMN in the upper limb
- UMN:
- Held in … posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- … weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- … level
- LMN:
- …/Fasciculations
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a … distribution or a … nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
UMN vs LMN in the upper limb
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles … than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/…
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- … or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
UMN vs LMN in the upper limb
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased …
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- Flaccid …
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
- UMN:
- Held in flexed posture if chronic.
- Increased tone
- Pyramidal weakness (Flexor muscles stronger than extensors)
- Brisk reflexes.
- Sensory level
- LMN:
- Wasting/Fasciculations
- Flaccid tone
- Weakness in either a myotomal distribution or a peripheral nerve distribution
- Reduced reflexes.
- Dermatomal or peripheral nerve distribution of sensory loss.
3 anatomical regions for localising the lesion:
Myotomes - Relationship between the spinal … & …
Myotomes - Relationship between the spinal nerve & muscle
Dermatomes - Relationship between the spinal … & …
Dermatomes - Relationship between the spinal nerve & skin
middle finger dermatome?
C7
A dermatome is an area of the skin supplied by nerve fibres originating from a single … … …
A dermatome is an area of the skin supplied by nerve fibres originating from a single dorsal nerve root.
Herpes Zoster- Which dermatomes ?
- v1 branch
- also T4/T5 region
Roots and myotomes
- Each muscle has a root and nerve innervation
Roots and myotomes
- Each muscle has a root and nerve innervation
Myotomes (simplified)
Shoulder abduction - what root and myotome?
Elbow flexion - what root and myotomes?
Elbow extension, wrist extension, wrist flexion - what root and myotomes?
Finger extension and Finger flexion - what root and myotomes?
Finger abduction - what root and myotome?
Reflexes - Upper Limb
- … reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- … jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
Reflexes - Upper Limb
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- … jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- … jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
Reflexes - Upper Limb
- Biceps reflex – C… reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C… reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C… reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C… reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
Reflexes - Upper Limb
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the … nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the … nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the … nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the … and … nerve.
- Biceps reflex – C5 reflex conveyed through the musculocutaneous nerve.
- Supinator jerk – C6 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Triceps jerk – C7 reflex conveyed through the radial nerve.
- Finger jerk – C8 reflex conveyed through the median and ulnar nerve.
reflexes is depressed in … motor neuron lesion
reflexes is depressed in lower motor neuron lesion
Nerve root …
What is shown here?
nerve root impingement
Nerve root impingement
- Causes – pain – radiates/ aggravated by … movement
- … loss
- weakness
- … loss
- Flexibility of cervical spine protects it from fractures or dislocation-
- but may get injury to neural structures – hyper flexion/extension
- Causes – pain – radiates/ aggravated by neck movement
- sensory loss
- weakness
- reflex loss
- Flexibility of cervical spine protects it from fractures or dislocation-
- but may get injury to neural structures – hyper flexion/extension
Nerve root impingement
- Causes – pain – radiates/ aggravated by … movement
- … loss
- weakness
- … loss
- Flexibility of cervical spine protects it from fractures or … - but may get injury to neural structures – … flexion/extension
- Causes – pain – radiates/ aggravated by neck movement
- sensory loss
- weakness
- reflex loss
- Flexibility of cervical spine protects it from fractures or dislocation-
- but may get injury to neural structures – hyper flexion/extension
MRI C-spine
- What is going on where red circle is?
T2 sequence - CSF is white around spinal cord, slightly disrupted at C6 - disc is pressing on spinal cord (Disc prolapse - may get lower motor neurone signs at the level it’s pressing the root - but if also spinal cord, upper motor neurone signs below that = myelopathy (cervico myeloradiculopathy)
Types of nerve (plexus) injury:
- Avulsion: … of the nerves from its … at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- Rupture: … of the nerves but not from its … to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- Neuroma: … or … of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or myeloma – Require surgical repair
- Neurapraxia: Axons remain intact, but myelin damage cause an interruption of the impulse down the nerve fibre
- Avulsion: Tearing of the nerves from its attachment at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- Rupture: Tearing of the nerves but not from its attachment to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- Neuroma: tumour or growth of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or myeloma – Require surgical repair
- Neurapraxia: Axons remain intact, but myelin damage cause an interruption of the impulse down the nerve fibre – Good prognosis.
- Worst prognosis are the ones requiring surgery
Types of nerve (plexus) injury:
- …: Tearing of the nerves from its attachment at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- …: Tearing of the nerves but not from its attachment to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- Neuroma: tumour or growth of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or … – Require surgical repair
- Neurapraxia: … remain intact, but … damage cause an interruption of the … down the nerve fibre
- Avulsion: Tearing of the nerves from its attachment at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- Rupture: Tearing of the nerves but not from its attachment to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- Neuroma: tumour or growth of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or myeloma – Require surgical repair
- Neurapraxia: Axons remain intact, but myelin damage cause an interruption of the impulse down the nerve fibre – Good prognosis.
- Worst prognosis are the ones requiring surgery
Types of nerve (plexus) injury:
- …: Tearing of the nerves from its attachment at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- …: Tearing of the nerves but not from its attachment to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- …: tumour or growth of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or myeloma – Require surgical repair
- …: Axons remain intact, but myelin damage cause an interruption of the impulse down the nerve fibre
- Avulsion: Tearing of the nerves from its attachment at the spinal cord. – Require surgical repair
- Rupture: Tearing of the nerves but not from its attachment to the spinal cord – Require surgical repair
- Neuroma: tumour or growth of the nerve tissue. Can arise from the axon or myeloma – Require surgical repair
-
Neurapraxia: Axons remain intact, but myelin damage cause an interruption of the impulse down the nerve fibre – Good prognosis.
- Worst prognosis are the ones requiring surgery
- Which of the following injuries will have a worse prognosis ?
- (Avulsion / rupture, neuroma, neurapraxia)
avulsion is worst, avulsion, rupture, neuroma require surgery whereas neurapraxia has a good prognosis
What this showing? (… arm as a result of … root …)
What this showing? (flail arm as a result of cervical root avulsion) - motor cycle injury
(C5-T1 lesions causing flail arm, Left shoulder subluxation, Atrophy of the left deltoid, supraspinatous and infraspinatous)
Brachial plexus injury:
- …
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- …
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
- …
- Brachial neuritis
- …
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
-
Trauma
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
-
Cancer
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
-
Inflammatory
- Brachial neuritis
-
Structural
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
Brachial plexus injury:
- Trauma
- Erb-… type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- … paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- Cancer
- Lung cancer: … tumour
- Radiotherapy
- Inflammatory
- Brachial …
- Structural
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Trauma
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- Cancer
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
- Inflammatory
- Brachial neuritis
- Structural
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
Brachial plexus injury:
- Trauma
- …-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C…, T… roots.
- Cancer
- … cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
- Inflammatory
- … neuritis
- Structural
- … outlet syndrome
- Trauma
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- Cancer
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
- Inflammatory
- Brachial neuritis
- Structural
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
Brachial plexus injury:
- Trauma
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C…,C… roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- Cancer
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- …therapy
- Inflammatory
- Brachial …
- Structural
- Thoracic … syndrome
- Trauma
- Erb-Duchenne type paralysis: Avulsion of C5,C6 roots.
- Klumpke paralysis: Avulsion of C8, T1 roots.
- Cancer
- Lung cancer: Pancoasts tumour
- Radiotherapy
- Inflammatory
- Brachial neuritis
- Structural
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
4 categories of brachial plexus injury are…