The three dimensional assessment of peripheral nerve injury: An integrated clinical, neurophysiologic and sonographic approach

“Time is brain,” a phrase common to neurologists, emphasizes the importance of immediate evaluation for acute stroke (). In the realm of peripheral nerve injury (PNI), the opportunity for acute diagnosis is often dictated by the temporal evolution of neurophysiologic findings, limiting the value of acute assessment. The findings of Padua et al. in this issue of Clinical Neurophysiology may increase the urgency to assess PNI (). PNI owing to traumatic and iatrogenic injury is quite common, with an incidence as high as 34% in traumatic brain injury patients () and is found in up to 5% of all patients admitted to trauma centers (). As PNI often occurs in the context of severe medical illness, diagnosis is frequently delayed. Post-operative patients with impaired consciousness are unable to report pain, weakness or numbness, obscuring the deficits related to PNI. Immobilization for bony fractures in conscious patients impedes neurological assessment and PNI symptoms may be attributed to musculoskeletal causes.

Source: Clinical Neurophysiology - February 4, 2013 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Lisa D. Hobson-Webb, Vern C. Juel Tags: Editorials Source Type: research