Injury of axillary nerve: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:17, 15 February 2025

Overview of axillary nerve injury

Overview

Diagram of the axillary nerve and its branches

The axillary nerve is a crucial component of the brachial plexus, responsible for innervating the deltoid muscle and the teres minor muscle, as well as providing sensory input from the skin overlying the deltoid. Injury to the axillary nerve can result in significant functional impairment of the shoulder.

Anatomy

The axillary nerve originates from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, carrying fibers from the C5 and C6 spinal nerves. It travels through the quadrangular space of the shoulder, accompanied by the posterior circumflex humeral artery.

Branches

The axillary nerve gives off several branches:

The anterior branch innervates the anterior part of the deltoid muscle.
The posterior branch innervates the posterior part of the deltoid and the teres minor muscle.
The superior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm provides sensory innervation to the skin over the deltoid.

Causes of Injury

Injury to the axillary nerve can occur due to various reasons, including:

Shoulder dislocation
Fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus
Compression from improper use of crutches
Direct trauma to the shoulder region

Clinical Presentation

Patients with axillary nerve injury may present with:

Weakness or paralysis of the deltoid muscle, leading to difficulty in abduction of the arm
Atrophy of the deltoid muscle
Loss of sensation over the lateral aspect of the shoulder

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of axillary nerve injury is primarily clinical, supported by:

Physical examination
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the extent of injury

Management

Management of axillary nerve injury depends on the severity and cause of the injury:

Conservative treatment includes physical therapy and pain management.
Surgical intervention may be necessary in cases of severe or persistent injury, such as nerve grafting or nerve transfer.

Prognosis

The prognosis for axillary nerve injury varies. Many patients recover with conservative treatment, but some may experience persistent weakness or sensory deficits.

Related pages

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-'''Injury of Axillary Nerve''' is a medical condition that involves damage to the [[axillary nerve]], a nerve in the human body that controls the [[deltoid muscles]] and skin sensation in the shoulder. It is often caused by shoulder dislocation or fractures of the [[humerus]].
+{{Short description|Overview of axillary nerve injury}}
+{{Medical resources}}
-== Causes ==
+==Overview==
+[[File:Gray810.png|thumb|right|Diagram of the axillary nerve and its branches]]
+The '''axillary nerve''' is a crucial component of the [[brachial plexus]], responsible for innervating the [[deltoid muscle]] and the [[teres minor muscle]], as well as providing sensory input from the [[skin]] overlying the [[deltoid]]. Injury to the axillary nerve can result in significant functional impairment of the shoulder.
-The axillary nerve can be injured due to various reasons. The most common causes include:
+==Anatomy==
+The axillary nerve originates from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, carrying fibers from the [[C5]] and [[C6]] [[spinal nerves]]. It travels through the [[quadrangular space]] of the shoulder, accompanied by the [[posterior circumflex humeral artery]].
-* [[Shoulder dislocation]]: This is the most common cause of axillary nerve injury. The nerve can be damaged when the shoulder is dislocated, causing numbness and weakness in the shoulder.
+===Branches===
-* [[Fracture]] of the humerus: The axillary nerve runs close to the humerus, so a fracture can easily damage the nerve.
+The axillary nerve gives off several branches:
-* [[Compression]]: The axillary nerve can be compressed by tumors, cysts, or other structures in the shoulder.
+* The [[anterior branch]] innervates the anterior part of the deltoid muscle.
+* The [[posterior branch]] innervates the posterior part of the deltoid and the teres minor muscle.
+* The [[superior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm]] provides sensory innervation to the skin over the deltoid.
-== Symptoms ==
+==Causes of Injury==
+Injury to the axillary nerve can occur due to various reasons, including:
+* [[Shoulder dislocation]]
+* [[Fracture]] of the [[surgical neck of the humerus]]
+* [[Compression]] from improper use of [[crutches]]
+* Direct trauma to the shoulder region
-The symptoms of axillary nerve injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury. Common symptoms include:
+==Clinical Presentation==
+Patients with axillary nerve injury may present with:
+* Weakness or paralysis of the deltoid muscle, leading to difficulty in [[abduction]] of the arm
+* Atrophy of the deltoid muscle
+* Loss of sensation over the lateral aspect of the shoulder
-* Weakness or paralysis of the deltoid muscles
+==Diagnosis==
-* Loss of sensation in the shoulder
+Diagnosis of axillary nerve injury is primarily clinical, supported by:
-* Pain or discomfort in the shoulder
+* [[Physical examination]]
+* [[Electromyography]] (EMG) and [[nerve conduction studies]]
+* [[Magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI) to assess the extent of injury
-== Diagnosis ==
+==Management==
+Management of axillary nerve injury depends on the severity and cause of the injury:
+* Conservative treatment includes [[physical therapy]] and [[pain management]].
+* Surgical intervention may be necessary in cases of severe or persistent injury, such as [[nerve grafting]] or [[nerve transfer]].
-Diagnosis of axillary nerve injury is usually made based on the patient's symptoms and a physical examination. Additional tests such as [[electromyography]] (EMG) and nerve conduction studies may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
+==Prognosis==
+The prognosis for axillary nerve injury varies. Many patients recover with conservative treatment, but some may experience persistent weakness or sensory deficits.
-== Treatment ==
+==Related pages==
+* [[Brachial plexus injuries]]
+* [[Peripheral nerve injury]]
+* [[Shoulder anatomy]]
-Treatment for axillary nerve injury depends on the cause and severity of the injury. Options may include:
+[[Category:Peripheral nervous system disorders]]
-* [[Physical therapy]]: This can help to strengthen the muscles and improve range of motion in the shoulder.
-* [[Surgery]]: In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair the damaged nerve or to remove any structures that are compressing the nerve.
-* [[Medication]]: Pain medication can be used to manage pain associated with the injury.
-== Prognosis ==
-The prognosis for axillary nerve injury depends on the severity of the injury and the treatment received. With appropriate treatment, most people can make a full recovery.
-== See Also ==
-* [[Nerve injury]]
-* [[Peripheral neuropathy]]
-* [[Shoulder dislocation]]
-* [[Humerus fracture]]
-[[Category:Neurological disorders]]
 [[Category:Injuries]]
-[[Category:Medical conditions]]
-{{stub}}