What Are the Basic Categories of Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injury?

Discussion The ulnar nerve begins in the brachial plexus and travels anterior to the medial head of the triceps in the upper arm. It then moves through the elbow at the condylar groove to the cubital tunnel, then between the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris in the forearm to the wrist. In the wrist it moves through the Guyon canal after which it splits to innervate the hand’s intrinsic muscles and gives sensation to the 4th and 5th fingers and lateral hand. To review the anatomy and anatomic variation click here. Compression of the nerve by abnormal positioning (during sleep or otherwise), crutches, tourniquets, compartment syndrome, hematomas and fractures commonly cause a chronic neuropathy. Ulnar neuropathies occur mainly at the elbow and the wrist because this is where the nerve is vulnerable. Ulnar neuropathy is one of the most common peripheral neuropathies after median nerve neuropathy due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Most symptoms are parathesia or numbness in the ulnar distribution, but motor symptoms can also occur ranging from severe muscle wasting and claw hands to minor weakness. Learning Point Acute peripheral nerve injury due to trauma is often caused by traction, compression, ischemia, or laceration. The nerve axon, myelin or both elements may be injured. There are 3 basic categories of traumatic peripheral nerve injury: Neuropraxia Axon is normal but there is segmental demyelination Motor function loss, sensory and sympathetic losses are incomplete...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news