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Non-traumatic brachial plexopathies, clinical, radiological and neurophysiological findings from a tertiary centre.
Mullins, G M O'Sullivan, S S Neligan, A Daly, S Galvin, R J Sweeney, B J McNamara, B
Mullins, G M
O'Sullivan, S S
Neligan, A
Daly, S
Galvin, R J
Sweeney, B J
McNamara, B
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2012-02-03T15:16:49Z
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Action Potentials/physiology
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/*etiology/*physiopathology/radiography
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Electromyography
Female
Humans
Infant
Ireland
Male
Median Nerve/physiopathology
Middle Aged
Neural Conduction/physiology
Recovery of Function/physiology
Retrospective Studies
Ulnar Nerve/physiopathology
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/*etiology/*physiopathology/radiography
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Electromyography
Female
Humans
Infant
Ireland
Male
Median Nerve/physiopathology
Middle Aged
Neural Conduction/physiology
Recovery of Function/physiology
Retrospective Studies
Ulnar Nerve/physiopathology
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical characteristics, aetiology, neuro-physiological characteristics, imaging findings and other investigations in a cohort of patients with non-traumatic brachial plexopathy (BP). METHODS: A 3-year retrospective study of patients with non-traumatic BP identified by electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Clinical information was retrieved from patients' medical charts. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were identified. Causes of BP included neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) (48%), neoplastic (16%), radiation (8%), post infectious (12%), obstetric (4%), rucksack injury (4%), thoracic outlet syndrome (4%) and iatrogenic (4%). Patients with NA presented acutely in 50%. The onset was subacute in all others. Outcome was better for patients with NA. All patients with neoplastic disease had a previous history of cancer. MRI was abnormal in 3/16 patients (18.8%). PET scanning diagnosed metastatic plexopathy in two cases. CONCLUSIONS: NA was the most common cause of BP in our cohort and was associated with a more favourable outcome. The authors note potentially discriminating clinical characteristics in our population that aid in the assessment of patients with brachial plexopathies. We advise NCS and EMG be performed in all patients with suspected plexopathy. Imaging studies are useful in selected patients.
Language
eng
ISSN
0303-8467 (Print)
0303-8467 (Linking)
0303-8467 (Linking)
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.1016/j.clineuro.2007.05.010
PMID
17624660