Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome (1) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome (1)

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Brachial plexus neuropathy syndrome, also termed as brachial plexopathy, is a nerve disorder in the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves from the spinal cord that separates in to individual shoulder and arm nerves. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome (1)


1
Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome
2
Brachial Plexus Neuropathy Syndrome
  • Brachial plexus neuropathy syndrome, also termed
    as brachial plexopathy, is a nerve disorder in
    the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves from the
    spinal cord that separates in to individual
    shoulder and arm nerves. Since the brachial
    plexus nerves generally originate from the spine
    region, the syndrome is quite often misdiagnosed
    as a slipped/compressed disc or cervical spine
    disorder. Also being a rare nerve disorder, it is
    easily confused with other neck and upper
    extremity abnormalities. However, the condition
    is mainly characterized by acute onset of severe
    pain in the shoulder or arm, followed by regional
    muscle weakness. It is commonly seen in people of
    young age groups, affecting males and females
    evenly and often characterized by repeated,
    bilateral attacks.

3
Causes of brachial plexus neuropathy syndrome
  • Though the actual causes are unknown, there are
    a few probable factors that may contribute to its
    occurrence, which are given below. 
  • Trauma to the area
  • Stretching injuries
  • Parasitic infestation
  • Congenital abnormalities
  • Excessive exposure to toxins and radiations
  • Viral infection, especially of the upper
    respiratory tract
  • Bacterial infection like pneumonia, diphtheria,
    typhoid, etc.
  • Certain vaccinations, including influenza,
    tetanus, diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, pertussis
    DPT, smallpox, etc.
  • Systemic illness such as polyarteritis
    nodosa, lymphoma, systemic lupus erythematosus,
    temporal arteritis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, etc.

4
Symptoms
  • The intensity of shoulder or arm pain
    experienced by the patient may vary, and is
    initially mistaken for a strain or injury until
    the patient starts suffering from muscle
    weakness. However, besides nerve pain, there are
    many other symptoms, which are as follows 
  • Numbness of the shoulder, arm or hand
  • Regional muscle weakness
  • Intense shoulder pain
  • Tingling, burning, or abnormal sensations in the
    affected area
  • Inability to extend or raise the wrist or hand

5
Diagnosis of brachial plexus neuropathy syndrome
  • Since brachial plexus neuropathy is usually
    mistaken for some other nerve abnormalities,
    several diagnostic tests may have to be conducted
    to identify the condition. The doctor will
    conduct a neurological exam of the patient in
    order to diagnose the complex or intricate nerve
    fibres in the affected area. Further, he may
    perform an MRI of the area to reveal physical
    changes in the nerves, and a nerve conduction
    test to determine the nerves that are not
    conducting signals properly and where exactly the
    breakdown in communication is occurring. Nerve
    biopsies can also be conducted to look out for
    any structural damage to the nerve.

6
Treatments
  • The treatment mainly depends upon its underlying
    cause. If an injury is not the cause of the pain,
    medication, braces or splints, and physical
    therapy are the most recommended treatment
    options. For mild nerve pain, painkillers
    like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen can be
    used. However, to reduce stabbing and intense
    pain, medications like phenytoin, carbamazepine,
    and gabapentin can be given to the patient.
    Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline,
    are also effective in providing pain relief.
    Physical therapy, comprising simple arm and
    shoulder exercises, can also help in relieving
    the nerve pain. In severe cases, wherein the
    syndrome is long-lasting and symptoms get worse,
    a surgery may be performed to treat the
    condition. Though brachial plexus neuropathy is
    not a life-threatening disorder, if left
    untreated, it can develop into long term weakness
    or paralysis along with contractures in the
    shoulder and arm. Hence, regular neurological
    exams are strongly recommended to keep track of
    the changes in the condition. In case the
    aforementioned treatment options do not prove to
    be helpful and with time the condition
    worsens, consult a neurologist to elucidate the
    case.

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