Nerve lesions and entrapment neuropathies of the upper limb

Chapter contents

Peripheral nerve lesions in the neck, shoulder girdle and upper limb can occur anywhere along the extraspinal extent of the nerve – between the intervertebral foramen and the most distal nerve endings in the extremities. The function of the nerve becomes impaired either as the result of an entrapment phenomenon, or as the outcome of an injury causing bruising or elongation of the nerve tissue.

Entrapment phenomena occur typically at four different sites giving rise to four different mechanisms (see Chapter 2):

• Pressure on a distal nerve causes mainly analgesia as well as some paraesthesia in the territory of the nerve.

• When a nerve trunk or plexus becomes compressed, the release phenomenon – paraesthesia when the pressure ceases – is found.

• Nerve root compression is characterized by pain and paraesthesia, felt in the corresponding dermatome, and often followed by sensory and motor deficit in the same segment.

• Pressure on the cervical spinal cord is painless. An early symptom is paraesthesia with multisegmental distribution. When the compression becomes more severe, numbness, incoordination, spasticity and hyperreflexia may occur.

Disorders of the spinal cord and nerve roots are discussed in Chapters 2 and 8.

Disorders of the spinal accessory nerve

Mononeuropathy of the spinal accessory nerve

The patient initially complains of intermittent pain in the shoulder girdle area, which soon may become permanent.15,16 At the same time, the arm starts to feel weak and heavy, which leads to some functional loss.¹⁷ Exceptionally, pain is absent. Pain normally lasts for about 3 weeks, after which it disappears spontaneously.

Inspection elicits an asymmetrical neckline with drooping of the effected shoulder. This may be accompanied with lateral displacement and winging of the scapula.¹⁸ Typically, winging is minimal and is accentuated during arm elevation, with the scapula moving upwards with the superior angle more lateral to the midline than the inferior angle. Limitation of active elevation of the arm is a consistent finding, and in one series of patients, the majority could only elevate to 80–90°.¹⁹ Passive neck, scapular and arm movements do not influence the pain. Resisted elevation of the shoulder girdle is weak. Resisted external rotation of the arm makes the scapula more prominent medially.²⁰ In severe cases the trapezius muscle may be wasted. The diagnosis is confirmed by asking the patient to adduct both scapulae while the therapist applies counterpressure at the medial border of the inferior scapular angle (Fig. 3). In neuritis of the accessory nerve, the scapula on the affected side can easily be pushed away at the side.

Fig 3 Test to confirm spinal accessory nerve palsy.

Spontaneous cure of motor function of the trapezius is the rule and usually takes about 4–8 months.21,22 If inadequate functional recovery is seen after a year, additional conservative treatment is unlikely to be beneficial and surgery is indicated. In a recent review of the literature, authors have reported good or excellent results in approximately two-thirds of patients treated with nerve surgery.²³

Disorders of the brachial plexus

Anatomy

The ventral rami of the spinal nerves C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1 unite to form the brachial plexus. Occasionally a prefixed (C4) or postfixed (T2) ramus takes part in the formation of the plexus. Several interconnections lead to the formation of trunks, divisions, cords and branches.

Trunks

There are three trunks: superior, middle and inferior. The superior trunk is created by the fusion of the ventral rami of C5 and C6. The middle trunk is the continuation of the ventral ramus of C7. The inferior trunk is formed by the ventral rami of C8 and T1.

Divisions

The three trunks divide into an anterior and a posterior part. The posterior parts form the posterior cord. The anterior parts form the other cords: the superior trunk continues in the lateral cord and the inferior trunk in the medial cord. The superior and inferior trunks also give off branches for the middle trunk, thus forming interconnections.

Cords

The cords are lateral, posterior and medial according to their relation to the subclavian/axillary artery. The lateral cord is formed from fibres of the superior trunk, together with fibres from the middle trunk. The posterior cord results from the fusion of fibres originating from the three trunks. The medial cord is the continuation of the inferior trunk.

Peripheral nerve

From the three cords the major peripheral nerves of the upper limb are formed. The lateral cord continues into the musculocutaneous nerve. The posterior cord forms a branch that divides into two separate nerves: the radial nerve and the axillary nerve. The medial cord forms the ulnar nerve. From an anastomosis between the lateral cord and the medial cord the median nerve is formed.

Several other nerves emerge directly from the brachial plexus, either from its supraclavicular or its infraclavicular part.

From the infraclavicular part of the plexus the following nerves originate: the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm (supplying the anteromedial and posteromedial part of the arm); and the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm (its anterior ramus supplying the anteromedial aspect of the forearm, and its cubital ramus supplying the posteromedial aspect of the forearm) branches of the medial cord of the brachial plexus (Fig. 4).

Fig 4 The brachial plexus.

Innervation

The brachial plexus is responsible for the complete motor and sensory innervation of the shoulder girdle and upper limb.

Traumatic disorders

The brachial plexus lies quite superficially within a very mobile shoulder girdle and is closely related to the different bony structures of neck, shoulder girdle, shoulder and thorax. This situation makes it very vulnerable. Traumatic disorders are therefore one of the commonest causes of brachial plexus dysfunction. As the result of traction injuries (e.g. motorcycle accidents), compression by dislocated (e.g. shoulder luxation 24,25) or fractured bones (e.g. fracture of the clavicle²⁶) or by haematomas, and intraoperative or birth injuries, larger or smaller parts of the plexus may become damaged, leading to total or partial syndromes.²⁷

Upper brachial plexus palsy

This is called Erb–Duchenne’s paralysis and is defined as a palsy of C5 and C6 and sometimes of C7. There is a motor deficit of the muscles innervated by the nerves originating from these fibres and possibly a sensory deficit in the C5 and C6 dermatomes (lateral and anterior aspects of arm and forearm and radial aspect of hand and fingers) (Table 1).

Table 1

Affected nerves and muscles in a palsy of the upper part of the brachial plexus

Nerve	Muscle
Long thoracic	Serratus anterior
Dorsal scapular	Rhomboids
Suprascapular	Supraspinatus
	Infraspinatus
Axillary	Deltoid
	Teres minor
Musculocutaneous	Coracobrachialis
	Biceps
Radial	Brachioradialis
	Supinator

The patient cannot bring the arm up and has difficulty in bending the elbow; there is a visible atrophy of the deltoid, supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles.

Middle brachial plexus palsy

If the middle part of the brachial plexus becomes damaged by trauma, the serratus anterior and rhomboid muscles remain unaffected. There is slight weakness of the deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, which results in the patient not being able to elevate the arm above the horizontal. Elbow flexion is weak because of paresis of the biceps muscle. Sensation remains normal.

Lower brachial plexus palsy

This is known as Dejerine–Klumpke paralysis and is not so common but it causes severe disability. The lesion affects the C8 and T1 segments, and quite often also C7. As a result, there is a palsy of the muscles supplied by the ulnar and median nerves as well as the finger extensors and the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle (radial nerve). A complete inability to use the hand follows. There is also sensory deficit in the C8 segment (ulnar aspect of hand and distal forearm).

Space-occupying lesions

Metastatic tumours – usually originating from the breast, the lung or the lymphatic system – may invade the brachial plexus.

The superior pulmonary sulcus tumour (Pancoast) typically invades the lower trunk of the plexus as well as the sympathetic ganglia at the base of the neck.²⁸ A lower brachial plexus dysfunction is then accompanied by Horner’s syndrome (see p. 3 of online chapter Disorders of the thoracic cage and abdomen).

Aneurysm of the subclavian artery and pseudoaneurysm of the axillary artery are other possible causes of compression of the brachial plexus.

Thoracic outlet syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a vague term, only suggesting the presence of a disorder within the area of the thoracic outlet. Although it is generally accepted that the aetiology is compression of the plexus and vascular bundle in the thoracic outlet, different opinions exist about the pathogenesis. This is expressed in the various names that have been given to the syndrome (see Box 1).²⁹ The consequence of disagreement on the aetiology is that numerous methods of treatment are advocated.

Box 1 Synonyms for thoracic outlet syndrome

Shoulder–hand syndrome

First thoracic rib syndrome

Cervical rib syndrome

Brachiocephalic syndrome

Scalenus anticus syndrome

Humeral head syndrome

Costoclavicular syndrome

Nocturnal paraesthetic brachialgia

Adson’s syndrome

Hyperabduction syndrome

Cervicobrachial neurovascular compression syndrome

Fractured clavicle syndrome

Pneumatic hammer syndrome

‘Rucksack’ paralysis

Effort vein thrombosis

Cervicothoracic outlet syndrome

Pectoralis minor syndrome

Subcoracoid syndrome

Syndrome of the scalenus medius band

Brachial plexus syndrome

Paget–Schroetter syndrome

Naffziger’s syndrome

Shoulder girdle syndrome

Haven’s syndrome

Sympathetic algodystrophy

Anatomy

The thoracic outlet is the space bounded by the upper part of the sternum, clavicle, first rib and the first thoracic vertebra.³⁰ Towards the centre, it is limited by the trachea and oesophagus. It forms the communicating area at the base of the neck for the passage of blood vessels and nerves from mediastinum and neck to the axilla and into which the dome of the pleura rises upward.³¹ The vagus, phrenic nerves, sympathetic trunk and thoracic duct also pass through the same openings.

The first rib has a flat upper surface. In its anterior portion there are two grooves, which are separated by the tubercle at which the anterior scalene muscle inserts. The more medial groove accommodates the subclavian vein. Behind the muscle, in the posterior groove, both subclavian artery and brachial plexus are found (Fig. 5).

The clavicle overlies the first rib just cranial to the posterior groove. At this site, compression of the neurovascular structures between first rib and clavicle is possible; this mainly happens to the most medially localized trunks, which contain fibres of C8 and T1, so causing symptoms in the territory of the median and the ulnar nerve.

Types

According to Cyriax, the syndrome is the outcome of a compression of the most medial branches of the brachial plexus, usually occurring between the clavicle and first rib, seldom as the result of a cervical rib. The compression is usually bilateral, intermittent or continuous and may or may not involve the subclavian artery and vein.³² It gives rise to a set of neurovascular symptoms, which are rarely present all together. Symptoms of neurological disturbances are usually found but sometimes only features of vascular compression.³³ The brachial plexus is involved in 98% of cases, the subclavian vein in 1.5%, and the artery in 0.5%.^34,35

Cyriax recognized two main groups of thoracic outlet syndromes based on anatomical and clinical grounds: the cervical rib syndrome and the first rib syndrome. We prefer to substitute for these terms. We make a distinction between the thoracic outlet syndrome caused by anatomical changes and that from postural factors. This approaches the growing agreement about the use of four terms to indicate the presence of the thoracic outlet syndrome;36,37 true neurologic, arterial and venous TOS – those syndromes that result from compression by a cervical rib (anatomical variety); and non-specific neurologic TOS^38,39 – the postural variety.

Fig 5 A slightly schematic representation of the relationship of neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet.

Anatomical variety

This is caused by structural changes – the presence of a bony cervical rib or a band of fibrous tissue which is found in 0.5% of a normal population. Only 5% of them will ever suffer from a thoracic outlet syndrome.⁴⁰ In a fibrous band, the corresponding transverse process of C7 is larger than usual – a rudimentary cervical rib. A cervical rib sometimes gives rise to a palpable mass at the base of the neck.

Interference with the neurovascular structures usually begins at between 20 and 30 years of age and is thereafter continuous. Structural change and clinical features are frequently bilateral, although often more pronounced at one side.⁴¹ The symptoms are the result of compression of both neurological and vascular structures.

Neurocompression

Compression of a nerve trunk can give rise to pain felt at the base of the neck, radiating unilaterally towards the shoulder and arm and even towards the chest. The pain is not very severe and is often associated with pins and needles and numbness, which may be felt in all five digits, although most frequently the fourth and fifth fingers are affected together with the ulnar side of the arm and hand.

The symptoms often appear or increase shortly after having carried a heavy object, but exceptionally they can occur during the activity itself. Some patients complain of disturbed fine motor coordination together with weakness and dysfunction of the hand.

On clinical examination, atrophy of the hypothenar (T1) or of the thenar muscles (C8), together with weakness of the interossei (T1), can be present.

Once a cervical rib has started to interfere with a nerve, the compression does not resolve. Therefore, the symptoms are continuously present and tend to increase.

Vascular compression

The compression can be venous and/or arterial.

Arterial

Compression of the subclavian artery (Fig. 6) results in coldness, pallor and easy tiredness of the hand.⁴² Especially after the arm has been hanging down for a while, the hand may turn white and cold over a period of hours. A diminished pulse may be found.

Fig 6 Compression of the subclavian artery with poststenotic aneurysm (arrow).

In more severe cases, chronic compressive stenosis of the artery may give rise to claudication of the upper extremity. It may further lead to a poststenotic dilation, sometimes to the formation of an aneurysm. Atheromata arising from these aneurysms or from chronic compression injury of the artery can result in peripheral embolization, which may lead to irreversible damage to the hand and even to the entire arm.34,43–45

The presence of an acute ischaemic syndrome of the upper extremity, usually in a young female, suggests the possibility of a thrombosis in a poststenotic aneurysm.

Venous

If the subclavian vein is impaired, cyanosis, swelling and oedema of the hand and forearm are the indirect signs of this process. Thrombosis of the subclavian vein may occur.46–48

Postural variety

This category comprises cases that have an almost identical clinical pattern but in which there is no cervical rib or fibrous band. It is characterized by neurological symptoms typically present after lying down for, say, 2–3 hours. It is a benign disorder seldom resulting in vascular disturbance or in muscular atrophy.

There are two types, depending on the clinical features.

Acute onset

This is unusual, but the diagnosis is important although difficult to make. Frequently the patient is admitted to the hospital suspected of having had a heart attack.⁴⁹

Young patients with acute onset of symptoms after carrying a heavy load are typical. They complain of a sudden and severe thoracic pain, radiating down the arm, feel faint and have pain on breathing. All such features draw attention to serious visceral disorders (heart attack, pneumothorax). A short time later, the arm and hand blanche. This situation resolves after a few hours, so that by the time investigations, such as electrocardiography, radiography of the thorax and possibly laboratory tests, have been done, the symptoms have disappeared and the patient is perfectly normal again.

Slow onset

This is the more common type. It is very slow in progression and has a benign evolution, seldom giving rise to neurological deficit. The diagnosis is often missed, although not difficult to establish.

It affects the middle aged or elderly, more frequently females. It sometimes occurs in pregnancy. The onset is with pins and needles in the hand and fingers, mainly at night and usually after 2–3 hours of sleep. The process is often bilateral, although worse on one side. Paraesthesia may be felt in all digits but may predominate in the median or ulnar distribution. It wakes the patient, who finds that she has to sit up or walk around for a short period of time, rubbing and moving the hands and fingers, to make the symptoms go. The symptoms disappear after a few minutes, allowing sleep to be continued, although recurrence may take place in the early morning hours. The more physical activity during the preceding day, the worse the symptoms at night.⁵⁰ In periods of rest or sickness, when the patient lies down for the whole day, no pins and needles are felt. Some patients also experience symptoms during the day, on activities such as knitting, holding a newspaper in front of the eyes or bicycling, all of which require some degree of shoulder elevation. Augmenting the pressure by carrying a heavy object may exceptionally provoke the symptoms as well, but normally only to a mild degree.

Cyriax explained this pattern as being the consequence of a diminishing tone in the shoulder muscles, starting in middle age. As a result, the shoulder girdle droops down during the day, resulting in compression of the most medial trunks of the brachial plexus, between the first rib and clavicle. Compression occurs during the day but the symptoms come on mainly at night after the pressure on the nerve has disappeared. He called this the ‘release phenomenon’ (see p. 26). The process seldom leads to damage of the nerve parenchyma with subsequent muscular atrophy because the brachial plexus can recover every night when the pressure is released.

Functional examination

The diagnosis is based mainly on the typical history, all passive movements of neck, shoulder and shoulder girdle being normal.⁵¹ The resisted movements are of normal strength and painless, except for C8 or T1 structures in the hand, which may be weakened when the compression is the outcome of a cervical rib. This type of characteristic history should always be followed up with the following additional tests.

Sustained elevation of the shoulders

The patient sits in a comfortable position and is asked to shrug the shoulders for about 3 minutes (Fig. 7). This causes maximum release of pressure and therefore may bring on the pins and needles and abolish vascular symptoms if present. However, this test is not always positive when thoracic outlet syndrome is present; in this case, release of pressure must be tried in different positions, either fully raising the arms above the head and maintaining this position for 3 minutes (Fig. 8) or lying supine with both hands on the head for the same length of time (Fig. 9).

Fig 7 Sustained shoulder elevation test.

Fig 8 Alternative sustained shoulder elevation test.

Fig 9 Alternative sustained shoulder elevation test.

Auscultation, pulse and blood pressure

The subclavian area should always be auscultated for a bruit, the radial pulse must be checked and blood pressure must be measured. The diagnostic significance, however, is not certain.

Other tests

Other tests for thoracic outlet syndrome have been advocated classically. Although we regard them as less specific and reliable, they are mentioned here for completeness. Adson’s test,⁵² the modified Adson’s test and Roos’ test (elevated arm stress test)⁵³ are regarded by some as totally unreliable, because about 50–60% of the normal population have positive findings.^54,55

Adson’s test

The patient stands with the arm resting at the side. In this position the examiner feels the patient’s radial pulse. Then the patient is asked to take a deep breath and to turn the head towards the involved side. Any change in pulse degree or in blood pressure, preferably measured by a Doppler probe, is noted. If there is a change, it means that the subclavian artery is compressed and probably also the brachial plexus. Adson considered a positive test to indicate vascular compression by the scalenus anterior.

Modified Adson’s test

Roos’ test

The patient abducts the arms to 90°, then opens and closes the hands slowly for 3 minutes. Those who are unable to keep their arms and hands elevated because of pins and needles are regarded as suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome. However, in carpal tunnel syndrome, active flexion of the fingers can bring on the pins and needles, and therefore this test does not differentiate between these two disorders (Fig. 10).

Fig 10 Roos’ test.

Examination of the cervical spine

If pins and needles are present in the upper extremities, a full examination of the cervical spine must always be carried out. In thoracic outlet syndrome, the passive movements of the neck are painless and of full range. When a cervical rib is present, weakness and atrophy of the thenar, hypothenar and interosseous muscles may be found.

Tests for carpal tunnel syndrome

All the specific tests for a carpal tunnel syndrome must be carried out (see below, Lesions in the carpal tunnel).

Technical investigations

It should be emphasized that thoracic outlet syndrome is primarily a clinical diagnosis, based on a full history and a complete clinical examination.

Electromyography (EMG) and conduction studies are of little value, for two reasons.56,57 First, the range is quite variable in normal patients. Second, because the stimulating electrode can not be placed proximal to the level of the compression, the compound action potential which is measured does not cross the site of the nerve compression. But EMG is helpful for differential diagnosis, in excluding nerve compression at other levels, such as ulnar nerve impingement at the elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome.

A radiograph of both the cervical spine and thorax can help to detect a cervical rib, a hypertrophic transverse process of C7 (suggesting a fibrous band) or the formation of a clavicular callus.⁵⁸ It also helps to exclude a Pancoast’s tumour. A CT scan may demonstrate an abnormal fibrous band.

Angiography (arteriography and/or phlebography) must be considered but is only indicated when the vascular symptoms are so severe that surgery is contemplated. Such can be the case when signs and symptoms of arterial embolism or arterial and/or venous occlusion are present.

Differential diagnosis

Cervical disc protrusions

When a posterolateral cervical disc compresses a nerve root, the cervicobrachial pain is very severe, often worse at night, coming and going without apparent reason. Some articular movements of the cervical spine increase the pain, although, surprisingly enough, their influence may be only very slight.

In posterocentral cervical protrusion with cord compression, pins and needles are felt in both hands and feet and are brought on or increased by neck flexion.

Compression of the ulnar nerve

A lesion of the ulnar nerve provokes pins and needles felt only in the fifth finger and at the ulnar half of the fourth. In compression at the cubital tunnel, some local pain around the elbow may also occur (see p. e138 of this chapter).

Compression of the radial nerve

Pins and needles may be felt at the dorsal aspect of the lower arm, and of the radial digits. Resisted extension of the hand is weak but painless. Sometimes a drop hand is found (see p. e132 of this chapter).

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel causes paraesthesia felt on the palmar aspect of the thumb, index and middle finger and the radial half of the ring finger. Carpal tunnel tests may be positive, although in 50% they remain negative (see p. e155 of this chapter).

Carcinoma of the superior sulcus of the lung (Pancoast’s tumour)

The coexistence of pins and needles and Pancoast’s tumour implies invasion of the brachial plexus, which may give rise to a palsy of the interosseous muscles at the hand. Very often a palsy of the recurrent nerve, causing hoarseness, is also present. Clinical inspection of the face may reveal Horner’s syndrome (ptosis of the upper eyelid, enophthalmia and myosis; see p. 3 of online chapter Disorders of the thoracic cage and abdomen).

Raynaud’s syndrome

This provokes only pain, and no pins and needles. Typically the hand becomes white and then blue in cold conditions.

Treatment

Anatomical variety

Thoracic outlet syndrome due to a cervical rib or a fibrous band can only be treated surgically. Paraesthesia and pain mostly disappear but wasting and weakness seldom resolve completely.

Postural variety

Because of the lack of consensus about the aetiology of this syndrome, various forms of treatment have been described (see Box 2). In the light of the mechanism that we consider responsible for the symptoms, the following approach is proposed.

Box 2 Various forms of treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome

Active strengthening exercises of the upper extremity and neck muscles

Shoulder shrugging exercises

Scapular adduction and abduction exercises

Stretching of the scaleni muscles

Mobilizations of the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints

Mobilizations of the first and second ribs

Sustained postures and postures of prevention during activities

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Scalenectomy

Periarterial sympathectomy

Removal of the first rib

Removal of the cervical rib

Removal of a pathological fibrous band

Posture and exercise

Cases caused by the first rib can be helped by conservative management. However, the first step in the treatment is a clear explanation to the patient of the pressure and release mechanism of the disorder. He or she should understand that the pins and needles at night are the result of compression during daytime and that they come on when the nerve is liberated from the pressure. He or she also should realize that, to get rid of the complaints, pressure on the nerve during the day must always be avoided.

To achieve the latter, the patient is asked to keep the shoulders slightly shrugged all day. Carrying loads and wearing heavy coats must be avoided.

For some weeks, the following daily exercise must be done in the evening. Seated in an armchair, elbows resting on the arms, both shoulders are kept shrugged passively (Fig. 11). This brings the pins and needles on after a while but the position is maintained, even if symptoms become more severe. Once they diminish and disappear spontaneously, usually in half an hour, the shoulders are let down.

Fig 11 Shoulder elevation exercise for first rib syndrome.

If the exercise is repeated daily, the patient soon finds that the paraesthesia comes on later and later at night and then appears only in the early morning hours and, after some more weeks of exercising at night, finally disappears completely. Exercises can then be stopped. But the patient must remember to continue indefinitely to keep the shoulders slightly shrugged during the day.

As mentioned previously, it is important to explain the release phenomenon in clear terms to the patient, so that he/she understands that the pins and needles are due to the nerve being fully liberated from the pressure. Lacking such understanding, the patient will mistakenly regard the exercise as harmful and discontinue it.

An orthosis designed to elevate the shoulder has been described. It has good results in 77% of patients.⁵⁹

Surgery

In cases refractory to conservative treatment, resection of the normal first rib can be performed.60–63 However, this is major surgery and not always successful in relieving symptoms. This approach also carries potential dangers, because of the close relationship to the brachial plexus and subclavian/axillary artery.^64,65

Table 2 provides a summary and differential diagnosis of the anatomical and postural varieties of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Table 2

Differential diagnosis and summary of anatomical and postural varieties of thoracic outlet syndrome

	Anatomical	Postural
Age	20–30 years	Middle-aged and elderly
Release phenomenon?	At first	All the time
Pins and needles?	All day	At night
Atrophy and weakness?	Thenar/hypothenar/interossei	None
Cold hands?	Possible	None
Cynosis and swelling?	Possible	No
Treatment	Surgery	Keeping shoulders slightly shrugged at all times; daily exercises in the evening

Plexitis

Acute or subacute neuritis of the brachial plexus has been described under different headings: amyotrophic neuritis, neuralgic amyotrophy, Parsonage–Turner syndrome, idiopathic brachial plexus neuropathy, brachial neuritis. There is a tendency to use the term ‘acute brachial plexus neuropathy’.

This rather uncommon parenchymatous disorder of the peripheral nerves, described by Parsonage and Turner,66,67 has no specific cause.⁶⁸ However, two biopsy studies, mentioned by Stewart,³⁶ may clarify the pathology and pathogenesis of this syndrome. They suggest that the disorder is the result of immune-mediated nerve damage following a previous viral infection or autoimmune process.^69,70

It may develop at any age.⁷¹ The onset is with quite sudden central neck pain or pain in one or both scapulae. After some hours to some days the pain radiates to one or both upper limbs, sometimes as far as the hands. Even in bilateral distribution the picture is asymmetrical and paraesthesia is uncommon. The pain is extreme during the first weeks, continues for 2–3 months and then gradually diminishes. Sometimes coughing or taking a deep breath may also be painful. It takes another 2 or 3 months before the patient is comfortable.

Examination in the early stage may show that the neck movements influence the cervicoscapular pain even though the lesion is not articular, but a clear pattern is not found.

Once the acute stage of an attack is over and the initial pain has disappeared, a patchy paresis and atrophy will become evident. There is visible atrophy in shoulder and shoulder girdle ⁷² and isometric testing reveals gross weakness in several muscles. All kinds of combinations of weakness may be possible. A typical feature of neuralgic amyotrophy is the patchiness of the motor and sensory symptoms. Histological studies have already shown that the pathologic process can cause very focal damage to one or a few of the fascicles that make up a brachial plexus trunk or cord, while simultaneously affecting several parts of the plexus as a whole.^73,74 This is clinically reflected by a wide variety in the possible distribution – and severity – of paresis. Any part of the brachial plexus, and clinically any muscle or skin area can be involved, in all sorts of combinations. It is precisely the recognition of this patchiness that is a very important clue to the diagnosis of neuralgic amyotrophy.⁷⁵ The muscles most often involved are: serratus anterior, deltoid, supraspinatus and infraspinatus, followed in frequency by biceps and triceps. The infraspinatus muscle seems to be always affected. Sensory abnormalities are much less pronounced than pain and weakness.

Analgesics may be necessary during the pain period but the other symptoms and signs recover spontaneously. In the majority of patients, the weakness abates in the next few months after the disappearance of the pain.⁷⁶

Disorders of the long thoracic nerve

Anatomy

The long thoracic nerve takes origin in the upper trunk of the brachial plexus from the ventral rami C5, C6 and often C7. It courses behind the brachial plexus and follows the lateral wall of the thorax where it divides into several branches (Fig. 12).

Fig 12 Anatomy of the long thoracic nerve.

Innervation

The long thoracic nerve is a pure motor nerve and innervates the serratus anterior muscle. The serratus anterior is a broad flattened sheet of muscle originating from the first nine ribs and passes posteriorly around the thoracic wall before inserting into the costal surface of the medial border of the scapula (Fig. 13).⁷⁷ The main function of the serratus anterior is to protract and rotate the scapula, keeping it closely opposed to the thoracic wall and optimizing the position of the glenoid for maximum efficiency for upper extremity motion.⁷⁸

Disorders

The nerve can become affected:

• As the result of iatrogenic causes, such as axillary or first rib surgery 79,80

• As the result of direct compression (‘backpack injuries’) because of its long course along the thorax ⁸¹

• As the result of excessive shoulder activity.82,83 Although the association is well established, there is no consensus of exactly how trauma injures the long thoracic nerve. Work on cadavers suggests that injury may take place as the nerve exits the fascial sheath that encompasses it, either in the form of a traction injury ⁸⁴ or in a ‘bow-stringing’ effect⁸⁵

• As the result of idiopathic neuritis.

Mononeuropathy of the long thoracic nerve

The patient presents with pain around the affected shoulder, which either arises spontaneously or is linked to some traumatic event.⁸⁶ This pain may radiate down the arm and to the scapula. In addition, he typically complains of shoulder weakness. The pain usually resolves spontaneously over the next several weeks, but the patient is left with weakness and a winged scapula.⁸⁷

Upon inspection, medial scapular winging is evident, with the medial and inferior borders closer to the spine and lifted superiorly when compared to the normal side.⁸⁸

Examination of the shoulder shows a limitation on active elevation of the arm of about 45–90°. Passive movements are of full range; resisted movements are normal. The diagnostic manūuvre is to ask the patient to push against a wall with the arms stretched out horizontally in front of the body (Fig. 14).⁸⁹ In this position, the vertebral border of the scapula lifts further from the thoracic wall due to the loss of serratus anterior scapular protraction.

Fig 13 Motor innervations of the serratus anterior muscle by the long thoracic nerve.

Fig 14 Test to confirm long thoracic nerve palsy.

In most cases spontaneous recovery occurs in 4–8 months.⁹⁰ However, in approximately 25% of patients the paralysis and scapular winging will persist and such patients are then candidates for surgical reconstruction.^91,92

Disorders of the suprascapular nerve

Anatomy

The suprascapular nerve takes origin from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus with fibres from the C4 to C6 ventral rami. It courses through the posterior triangle of the neck, underneath the trapezius muscle. The nerve passes through the suprascapular notch of the scapula, which is bridged by the thick transverse scapular ligament ⁹³ (Fig. 15). After entering the supraspinatus fossa the nerve gives off two motor branches to the supraspinatus muscle and then passes laterally within the fossa, providing sensory branches to the posterior capsule of the glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint. It then goes around the lateral border of the base of the spinous process to the infraspinatus fossa, where the nerve terminates by supplying motor branches to the infraspinatus muscle.

Fig 15 Anatomy of the suprascapular nerve.

Innervation

The nerve innervates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles and receives sensory and proprioceptive branches from the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints, as well as the subacromial bursa and posterior aspect of the capsule.

Disorders

The suprascapular nerve has a short course and several sites of relative fixation, making it vulnerable to both traction and compression forces. The nerve is fixed at both its origin at the Erb point on the brachial plexus and at its terminal insertion on the infraspinatus. The nerve is relatively fixed at the suprascapular notch, and anatomical studies have shown that motion does not occur at this point.⁹⁴ Suprascapular nerve dysfunction can be caused by:

• Entrapment of the nerve by a ganglion,95,96 or a tight ligament at the level of the suprascapular notch

• Entrapment at the spinoglenoid notch 97,98,99

• Acute brachial plexitis (the suprascapular nerve is involved in 97% of the cases)¹⁰⁰

• Trauma, e.g. shoulder luxation or scapular fracture ¹⁰¹

• Idiopathic neuritis.

A lesion at the suprascapular notch is either the result of a ganglion cyst or a traction trauma. Downward traction of the scapula can result in opposition of the suprascapular nerve against the sharp inferior border of the transverse scapular ligament. Cross-body abduction or protraction with forward flexion, as seen in fencing, throwing sports,¹⁰² racquet sports, and weight lifting, have also been found to maximally stretch the suprascapular nerve.

Entrapment can also occur more distally at the spinoglenoid notch, which is more commonly seen in athletes whose sports require rapid forceful external rotation movements, such as volleyball.103,104 The cocking motion for the smash results in rapid external rotation of the shoulder; this rapid motion of the infraspinatus muscle is thought to pull the suprascapular nerve against the base of the scapular spine, resulting in nerve injury at this level. Injury to nerves in the spinoglenoid area has also been noted secondary to ganglion cysts.

Patients complain of a fatigue-like posterior shoulder pain which may be aggravated by activities that stretch or mobilize the nerve, such as combing one’s hair or moving the scapulae. Patients with pathology at the spinoglenoid notch may also present with painless and isolated wasting of the infraspinatus muscle as the nerve fibres at the notch contain no sensory afferents.

Inspection shows atrophy of the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus muscles. On clinical examination, full passive lateral rotation of the arm may provoke some pain, as may all active and passive scapular movements. Passive horizontal adduction of the arm is also painful. Depending on the level of nerve involvement, there is weakness in abduction or external rotation, or both. Proximal injury of the suprascapular nerve at the level of the suprascapular notch causes the weakness of both abduction and external rotation, while nerve injury at the level of the spinoglenoid notch affects only the infraspinatus and results in isolated weakness of external rotation.

An EMG shows a denervation of the infra- and supraspinatus which, together with the history of an injury, confirms the diagnosis. Ultrasonography can be used to show a ganglion. Magnetic resonance imaging is appropriate to diagnose entrapment.¹⁰⁵

The management for suprascapular nerve entrapment includes a conservative regimen of observation, rest, analgesics, and cortisone injections into the suprascapular notch.106,107 If this treatment is unsuccessful, surgical decompression of the nerve at the suprascapular ligament is necessary. In most patients it leads to full relief.^108,109

Technique: injection

The patient sits on a chair. The entire spine of the scapula is marked from the medial to the lateral edge. This line is bisected and a second line drawn at a 45° angle in an anterolateral direction. A 2.5 cm mark is made on this second line and a 7 cm needle, fitted to a syringe containing 2 ml of steroid, is inserted vertically downwards at this point until it hits the bone at the base of the scapular spine (Fig. 16). The tip of the needle is then moved further anteriorly until it slips in the suprascapular notch. The steroid is injected here.

Fig 16 Injection for suprascapular nerve entrapment.

Disorders of the axillary nerve

Anatomy

The axillary nerve takes origin in the posterior cord of the brachial plexus from fibres derived from C5–C6. It curves around the neck of the humerus and passes through the quadrilateral space close to the inferior shoulder joint capsule. This quadrilateral space is bounded by the teres minor superiorly, the long head of the triceps medially, the teres major inferiorly, and the humeral neck laterally and forms a potential site of compression for the axillary nerve as it passes from the anterior to the posterior aspects of the shoulder.¹¹⁰ After passing through the quadrilateral space, the axillary nerve divides into anterior and posterior branches, which supply the anterior and posterior portions of the deltoid muscle. The posterior branch of the axillary nerve also supplies the teres minor and supplies cutaneous sensation overlying the deltoid (the upper lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm). The short length of the axillary nerve renders it vulnerable to stretch injuries, especially during shoulder dislocation ¹¹¹ (Fig. 17).

Fig 17 The axillary nerve and its motor innervation of deltoid (1) and teres minor (2) muscles.

Innervation

The axillary nerve is mixed. The motor branches innervate the deltoid muscle and the teres minor muscle. The sensory branch innervates the skin over the deltoid region and the upper and lateral part of the arm.

Disorders

• Most axillary nerve lesions occur after anterior shoulder dislocation,⁷³ the exact incidence ranging between 9% and 18%.¹¹² Blunt trauma to the anterior aspect of the shoulder without dislocation has also been implicated in axillary nerve trauma in contact sports.^113,114

• Acute axillary neuropathy is also associated with backpacking, usually in inexperienced hikers. The cause of axillary nerve injury in ‘rucksack palsy’ is thought to be traction caused by depression of the shoulder from the excessively weighted backpack.

• Quadrilateral space syndrome represents a chronic compression syndrome of the axillary nerve in throwing athletes.¹¹⁵ Axillary nerve entrapment then occurs insidiously in the quadrilateral space without history of trauma. Fibrous bands at the inferior edge of the teres minor have been implicated, as have randomly oriented fibrous bands found in the quadrilateral space.^116,117

• The axillary nerve sits approximately 2 cm inferior to the usual posterior portal for arthroscopy, putting this nerve at risk during routine arthroscopic procedures.¹¹⁸ An unintentional local infiltration with steroid into the axillary nerve on infiltrating too far distally for infraspinatus tendinitis may cause the same problem.

Symptoms are often vague, consisting of a dull ache and/or pins and needles over the deltoid area. Sometimes extensive visible wasting of the deltoid is present, together with an area of cutaneous analgesia in the mid-deltoid region. According to Cyriax,¹¹⁹ (his p. 153) some patients tend to relax the axillary nerve as much as possible by elevating the scapula at the same side during the first few weeks after the injury. The process is a consequence of spasm of the trapezius and leads to pain on passive side flexion of the neck towards the contralateral side. Deltoid weakness is often masked by the activity of supraspinatus and pectoralis major.¹²⁰ Because the supraspinatus muscle is not involved, active elevation of the arm remains possible, and weakness is only found on resisted abduction. The diagnostic test is to ask the patient to abduct the arm to 90° and to bring it further backwards into horizontal extension (Fig. 18). This is impossible with an axillary nerve lesion.

Fig 18 Resisted horizontal extension.

Spontaneous cure is possible, but takes about 6 months. Care should be taken to mobilize the shoulder during the recovery so as to avoid an immobilizational arthritis. If no improvement has occurred after 6 months, surgical decompression is needed via a release of the teres minor and major tendinous insertions.¹²¹

Disorders of the radial nerve

Anatomy

The radial nerve takes origin in the posterior trunk of the brachial plexus and thus contains fibres from C5–T1. It reaches the lateral wall of the axilla and winds around the posterior aspect of the humerus in the groove for the radial nerve. It then pierces the lateral intermuscular septum to enter the anterior compartment of the arm. It lies lateral to the biceps and continues between the biceps tendon and the proximal part of the brachioradialis muscle. At the level of the elbow it divides into a superficial sensory branch (the superficial radial nerve) and a deep motor branch (the deep radial nerve). The latter continues to become the posterior interosseous nerve.

The superficial radial nerve lies under the brachioradialis muscle and follows the lateral border of the radius until at the wrist it divides into terminal digital branches to the dorsoradial part of the hand and the three radial digits.

The posterior interosseous nerve winds around the neck of the radius and goes into the dorsal compartment of the forearm. It pierces the supinator muscle through the arcade of Fröhse and runs deeply under the extensors as far as the wrist (Fig. 19).

Fig 19 The course of the radial nerve. 1, Supinator muscle; 2, superficial radial nerve; 3, posterior interosseous nerve.

Innervation

The motor part of the radial nerve innervates mainly the extensors of the arm and forearm: triceps and anconeus muscles, brachioradialis, extensors of the wrist, supinator and extensors of thumb and fingers.

The sensory part supplies the skin of the lateral arm, the posterior part of the forearm, the radial dorsum of the hand and the skin of the dorsal aspect of the proximal and middle phalanges of radial digits.

Disorders

The radial nerve is quite frequently affected by pathological conditions. This happens in more generalized diseases, such as poisoning by heavy metals (e.g. lead), but also in more localized lesions, either traumatic or following entrapment of the nerve tissue. The symptoms and signs depend on where, along the nerve, the lesion lies. The radial nerve may become affected at five different sites: the proximal and middle part of the upper arm, the distal part of the upper arm, the proximal part of the forearm and the distal part of the forearm (Table 3).

Table 3

The radial nerve and its branches

Lesions at the proximal and middle part of the upper arm

When the lesion results from an injury – fracture or dislocation of the humerus – it is usually combined with an axillary palsy.¹⁰¹ Space-occupying lesions in the axilla or the use of old-fashioned axillary crutches are other (rare) causes.^122,123

The full radial nerve syndrome gives rise to weakness of elbow extension (triceps, anconeus) and supination (brachioradialis, supinator), and extension of the wrist (extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris). Extension of the fingers at the metacarpophalangeal joints is also weak (extensor digitorum, extensor indicis proprius, extensor digiti minimi), as well as abduction and extension of the thumb (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus and brevis). Sensory deficit may be found at the lateral aspect of the arm and posterior aspect of the forearm as far as the dorsum of the wrist. Paraesthesia is experienced on the dorsal aspect but not in the terminal phalanges of the thumb, index and middle fingers and the radial half of the fourth finger (Fig. 20).

Fig 20 Sensory supply in the hand by the radial nerve.

Examination reveals weakness of extension and supination of the elbow, together with weakness of extension of wrist, fingers and thumb. This results in a characteristic position of elbow and hand – porter’s hand or drop hand. Because of the anastomoses between the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm – first branch of the radial nerve – and other neighbouring nerves, sensory deficit is not common but when it occurs it is found at the lateral aspect of the arm and posterior aspect of the forearm as far as the dorsum of the wrist.

Differential diagnosis must be made from spinal cord, intraspinal and radicular lesions (C7), as well as conditions affecting the brachial plexus, neuritises or myopathies.

Lesions at the distal part of the upper arm

Lesions are more common at the distal than the middle and proximal part of the arm. The palsy may be traumatic – fracture of the humerus,124,125 fracture or dislocation of the elbow – or may result from a sustained pressure just proximal to the elbow. This is typically the case in a patient who has fallen asleep with the arm over the edge of a chair or has lain all night with the arm resting against the hard edge of a bunk – ‘Saturday night paralysis’. The full radial syndrome develops, except that the triceps and anconeus muscles are unaffected, as is the brachioradialis muscle. The patient awakes with a painless dropped wrist.

Sensory disturbances may occur at the dorsal aspect of the forearm when the posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm is involved, although this area may have overlapping supply from neighbouring sensory nerves – the lateral and medial cutaneous nerves of the forearm. The superficial sensory branch of the radial nerve is responsible for cutaneous deficit at the radial and dorsal aspect of the hand, except when anastomoses with either the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm – a sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve – or the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve at the hand provide an alternative pathway.

Lesions at the upper part of the forearm

Level with the head of the radius, the radial nerve divides in its two terminal branches – the superficial (sensory) and deep (motor) branches (see Fig. 19). The latter then forks off into (1) muscular rami running towards the supinator, extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi and extensor carpi ulnaris muscles, and (2) the posterior interrosseous nerve of the forearm, which supplies the long abductor and extensors of the thumb as well as the extensor indicis proprius. When a lesion occurs proximal to this division, symptoms of both are combined. As the branches supplying the brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and brachialis escape the compression, there is only weakness of supination, extension of the fingers, ulnar deviation of the wrist and extension and abduction of the thumb.

Deep branch of the radial nerve

Conditions such as fracture and/or luxation of the head of the radius or local inflammatory processes, for example chronic bicipitoradial bursitis, may cause compression of the deep branch of the radial nerve where it turns around the head of the radius. The result is weakness of supination, ulnar deviation of the wrist and finger extension.

Posterior interosseous nerve of the forearm

Just below the point where the deep radial nerve comes to lie at the dorsal aspect of the forearm, the posterior interrosseous nerve of the forearm branches off and passes through the deep and superficial heads of the supinator brevis muscle ¹²⁶ (Fig. 21). When the edge of the upper border of the superficial head has become fibrous, this opening forms the arcade of Fröhse,¹²⁷ also called the radial tunnel. The nerve then passes further down along the interrosseous membrane and innervates the abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus and brevis, and extensor indicis proprius muscles.

Fig 21 Course of the posterior interosseous nerve through the supinator muscle.

The posterior interosseous nerve can be compressed as the result of: (1) an injury, usually a fracture (or the hardware used to fix fractures),128,129 or elbow joint dislocation;¹³⁰ (2) space-occupying lesions, such as synovial proliferations from the elbow joint in rheumatoid arthritis^131,132 or soft tissue tumours,^133,134 for example lipomas;¹³⁵ or (3) fibrous bands, which can be traumatic in origin (e.g. Volkmann’s contracture) or developmental (arcade of Fröhse).^136–140

Many authors believe that compression of the posterior interosseous nerve at the point where it passes through the arcade of Fröhse is a cause of lateral elbow pain and they therefore consider it as a type of tennis elbow. We do not agree that this condition should be considered to be a (resistant) type of tennis elbow, because the lesion does not lie in the extensors of the wrist. Hagert et al¹⁴¹ also regarded epicondylitis and posterior interosseous nerve entrapment as ‘two different disorders, which have nothing to do with each other, and which should therefore not be mixed up’.

Radial tunnel syndrome

In 1883, Winckworth stated that the posterior interosseous nerve could become compressed where it passes through the supinator muscle.¹⁴² Since Roles and Maudsley described the radial tunnel syndrome in 1972,¹⁴³ this pathology has become recognized as a cause of resistant tennis elbow.^{133,136,144–146} This idea is based on the reports of good results after surgical decompression of the posterior interosseous nerve at the radial tunnel.^147,148

Nerve compression by the edge of the superficial supinator muscle seems to occur on passive pronation of the forearm. On active supination the increase in pressure is much greater, which has led to the conclusion that dynamic compression of the posterior interosseous nerve by the edge of the superficial supinator muscle is probably a cause of local nerve irritation and pain.

In compression of a predominantly motor nerve, such as the posterior interosseous nerve, the main symptom would be paralysis. Kopell and Thompson, however, state that entrapment of a motor nerve may cause diffusely localized dull aching pain.¹⁴⁹ The pain would originate from the nociceptive thin or non-myelinated afferent nerve fibres of muscular and extramuscular origin.¹⁵⁰

However, the symptoms described by different authors are very similar to those found in tennis elbow: pain at the lateral side of the elbow, radiating distally along the posterior aspect of the forearm. The pain may be constant and can be brought on or aggravated by exertion, especially rotation movements, and the symptoms continue for some time after the causative strain has ceased. There is also diffusely localized pain on resisted supination and/or pronation as well as on resisted extension of the middle finger. Local tenderness is present over the proximal and posterior aspect of the forearm, at the suspected entrapment site. These symptoms and signs correspond with the clinical picture of what we have described as type IV (muscular) tennis elbow (see p. 313).

Treatment consists of surgical decompression. After surgery, the pain seems to disappear gradually, in the course of 6–12 months.

Werner analysed the hypothesis that posterior interosseous nerve entrapment can be a cause of lateral elbow pain.¹⁵¹

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