Floating Shoulder Injury Resulting in Delayed Onset of Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Palsy

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 499-503
Author(s):  
Hari Venkatramani ◽  
Praveen Bhardwaj ◽  
S. Raja Sabapathy ◽  
Gopinath Bandari ◽  
Dafang Zhang ◽  
...  

As the brachial plexus traverses the costoclavicular space, it is susceptible to compression by pathologies affecting the clavicle. Clavicle nonunions with hypertrophic callus may cause a delayed onset of brachial plexus palsy. We present a rare case of a floating shoulder injury causing medial and posterior cord brachial plexus palsy two months after initial injury. After the diagnosis was established, the patient was treated successfully with expeditious brachial plexus decompression, callus excision, and rigid osteosynthesis, with healing of the clavicle nonunion and scapular fracture, and recovery of sensory and motor deficits.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (15) ◽  
pp. 1029-1035
Author(s):  
Yu-Chun Chen ◽  
Zhen Lian ◽  
Yan-Na Lin ◽  
Xin-Jia Wang ◽  
Guan-Feng Yao

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
James B. Talmage ◽  
Jay Blaisdell

Abstract Physicians use a variety of methodologies within the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition, to rate nerve injuries depending on the type of injury and location of the nerve. Traumatic injuries that cause impairment to the peripheral or brachial plexus nerves are rated using Section 15.4e, Peripheral Nerve and Brachial Plexus Impairment, for upper extremities and Section 16.4c, Peripheral Nerve Rating Process, for lower extremities. Verifiable nerve lesions that incite the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome, type II (similar to the former concept of causalgia), also are rated in these sections. Nerve entrapments, which are not isolated traumatic events, are rated using the methodology in Section 15.4f, Entrapment Neuropathy. Type I complex regional pain syndrome is rated using Section 15.5, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for upper extremities or Section 16.5, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for lower extremities. The method for grading the sensory and motor deficits is analogous to the method described in previous editions of AMA Guides. Rating the permanent impairment of the peripheral nerves or brachial plexus is similar to the methodology used in the diagnosis-based impairment scheme with the exceptions that the physical examination grade modifier is never used to adjust the default rating and the names of individual nerves or plexus trunks, as opposed to the names of diagnoses, appear in the far left column of the rating grids.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligia C. S. Fonseca ◽  
Annika K. Nelke ◽  
Jörg Bahm ◽  
Catherine Disselhorst-Klug

Abstract:Coping strategies of patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) are highly individual. Up to now, individual movement performance is assessed by visual observations of physicians or therapists - a procedure, which is highly subjective and lacks objective data. However, objective data about the individual movement performance are the key to evidence-based and individualized treatment. In this paper, a new approach is presented, which provides objective information about the upper extremity movement performance of patients with OBPP. The approach is based on the use of accelerometers in combination with a classification procedure. The movement performance of 10 healthy volunteers and 41 patients with OBPP has been evaluated by experienced physiotherapists and has been assigned to one of 4 categories representing the Mallet Scale (MS) IV to I. Three triaxial-accelerometers were placed at chest, upper arm and wrist of the affected side of the patient. Acceleration signals have been recorded during repetitive movements with relevance regarding daily life. Here, especially the results from the “hand to mouth” task are presented. From the 9 recorded acceleration signals 13 relevant features were extracted. For each of the 13 features 4 thresholds have been determined distinguishing best between the 4 patient categories of the MS and the healthy subjects. With respect to the thresholds each feature value has been assigned to the discrete numbers 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4. Afterwards, each discrete number has been weighted by a factor regarding the correlation between the feature’s value and the MS score. The resulting weighted discrete numbers of all 13 features have been added resulting in a score, which quantifies the individual upper extremity movement performance. Based on this score the movement performance of each patient has been assigned to the classes “very good”, “good”, “regular” and “bad”. All movements of the 10 healthy volunteers were classified as “very good”. The movement performance of two patients MS IV were classified as “very good” as well and the movements of the other 16 patients as “good”. The movements of the entire group of MS III patients fell into the class “regular”. Just one MS II patient was assigned to the class “regular” while the others were classified as “bad”. It was not possible to classify the movements of MS I patients. This was mainly due to the fact that none of these patients MS I was able to complete the task successfully. The developed approach demonstrated its ability to quantify the movement performance of upper extremity movements based on accelerometers. This provides an easy to use tool to assess patient’s movement strategies during daily tasks for diagnosis and rehabilitation.


Author(s):  
V. Purushothaman ◽  
K. Vinoth Kumar ◽  
Sabari Girish Ambat ◽  
R. Venkataswami

Abstract Background Total brachial plexus palsy (TBPP) accounts for nearly 50% of all brachial plexus injuries. Since achieving a good functional hand was almost impossible, the aim was settled to get a good shoulder and elbow function. It was Gu, who popularized the concept of utilizing contralateral C7 (CC7) with vascularized ulnar nerve graft (VUNG) to get some hand function. We have modified it to suit our patients by conducting it as a single-stage procedure, thereby trying to get a functional upper limb. Methods From 2009 to 2014, we had 20 TBPP patients. We feel nerve reconstruction is always better than any other salvage procedure, including free muscle transfer. We modified Gu's concept and present our concept of total nerve reconstruction as “ALL IN ONE OR (W)HOLE IN ONE REPAIR.” Results All patients able to move their reconstructed limbs independently or with the help of contralateral limbs. Three patients developed hook grip and one patient was able to incorporate limbs to do bimanual jobs. One important observation is that all the reconstructed limbs regain the bulk, and to a certain extent, the attitude and appearance looks normal, as patients no longer hide it or hang it in a sling. Conclusion Adult brachial plexus injury itself is a devastating injury affecting young males. By doing this procedure, the affected limb is not dissociated from the rest of the body and rehabilitation can be aimed to get a supportive limb.


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