Clinical Vignette

A 27-year-old professional weight lifter complained about difficulty exercising. He had trouble getting his wallet out of the right back pocket of his pants. Examination revealed weakness of the right rhomboid muscles without noticeable muscle atrophy. There was scapular winging with lateral displacement of the scapula, most pronounced during elevation of the arm. Electrophysiologic testing disclosed active and chronic denervation–reinnervation changes in the right rhomboids. Testing of other arm and shoulder muscles was normal.

The dorsal scapular nerve receives fibers from the C5 nerve root. It innervates the levator scapulae and the rhomboideus major and minor muscles, which assist in stabilization of the scapula, rotation of the scapula in a medial–inferior direction, and elevation of the arm (Fig. 65-1). Rhomboid weakness can lead to scapular winging, which is most prominent when the patient raises the arm overhead. Possible etiologies of injury to this nerve include shoulder dislocation, weightlifting, and entrapment by the scalenus medius muscle.

Figure 65-1 Radial Nerve in Arm and Nerves of Posterior Shoulder.

Clinical Vignette

A 57-year-old left-handed woman underwent a left mastectomy for breast cancer. Immediately following the surgery, she noted an aching pain in the left posterior shoulder area. After discharge from the hospital, she had difficulty using the left arm. In particular, she complained of being unable to get dishes from the kitchen cabinets. She was not aware of sensory loss. Electrodiagnostic testing 3 weeks later showed evidence of acute denervation changes in the left serratus anterior muscle, consistent with a mononeuropathy of the long thoracic nerve.

The long thoracic nerve originates directly from C5–C7 roots, before the formation of the brachial plexus. It innervates the serratus anterior muscle and has no cutaneous sensory representation (Fig. 65-2). Weakness of the serratus anterior is debilitating, because it stabilizes the scapula for pushing movements and elevates the arm above 90 degrees. This is the most common cause of scapular winging; it is best recognized by having the patient push against a wall. The inferior medial border is the most prominently projected away from the body wall. A dull shoulder ache may accompany this neuropathy. When severe acute pain occurs with the onset of scapular winging, brachial plexus neuritis should be considered.

Figure 65-2 Neuropathy about Shoulder.

The long thoracic nerve may be damaged by mechanical factors, including repetitive or particularly forceful injuries to the shoulder or lateral thoracic wall and by surgical procedures including first rib resection, mastectomy, or thoracotomy. It is one of the most common nerves to be affected by acute brachial neuritis, solely or in combination with others.

Scapular winging can also be related to scapular fracture and avulsion. Because they are surgically correctable, it is important to distinguish them from a primary long thoracic nerve injury. Furthermore, scapular winging can be caused by weakness of the trapezius (resulting from injury of the spinal accessory nerve) or the rhomboid muscles (resulting from a dorsal scapular nerve lesion). Inspection of the posterior shoulder region can provide diagnostic clues. Although the scapula is typically displaced medially in long thoracic nerve lesions, lateral deviation points to weakness of the trapezius or rhomboids. Scapular winging is a predominant feature in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, where its bilateral representation and the other associated clinical features distinguish it from long thoracic nerve palsy.

Clinical Vignette

A 25-year-old right-handed woman was evaluated for dull right shoulder pain and weakness. The symptoms were most noticeable during overhead activities. She had no sensory loss, and no injury had preceded the onset of her symptoms. Examination disclosed tenderness to palpation at the spinoglenoid notch. Shoulder position was normal; range of motion was full. Motor examination was significant for weakness of external shoulder rotation and mild atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle overlying the scapula. Reflexes and sensory examination were normal. These findings of infraspinatus atrophy, weak external rotation of the shoulder, and point tenderness over the spinoglenoid notch were consistent with a focal suprascapular neuropathy. Electromyography (EMG) demonstrated active denervation changes confined to the infraspinatus muscle consistent with the clinical diagnosis. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the right shoulder revealed a cystic lesion at the spinoglenoid notch, which was confirmed by surgical exploration.

The suprascapular nerve emerges from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus, receiving fibers from C5 and C6 roots. It does not have any cutaneous innervation. The suprascapular nerve first provides innervation to the supraspinatus muscle, a shoulder abductor, and then to the infraspinatus, a shoulder external rotator (see Fig. 65-1). The suprascapular nerve may be injured at the suprascapular notch, before the innervation of the supraspinatus muscle, or distally at the spinoglenoid notch, affecting the infraspinatus alone (see Fig. 65-2). The most common site of entrapment is at the suprascapular notch, under the transverse scapular ligament. Acute-onset cases result from blunt shoulder trauma, with or without scapular fracture, or from forceful anterior rotation of the scapula. The suprascapular nerve may also be affected by brachial plexus neuritis in isolation or with other nerves. Suprascapular neuropathies of insidious onset often occur subsequent to callous formation after fractures, from entrapment at the suprascapular or spinoglenoid notch, by compression from a ganglion or other soft tissue mass, or by traction caused by repetitive overhead activities such as volleyball or tennis.

Clinical Vignette

A 72-year-old man had pain and weakness of the right arm following a fall. Evaluation in the emergency room disclosed an anterior dislocation of the right shoulder, which was reduced. Despite treatment, the patient continued to have difficulty raising the arm above the head. Electrodiagnostic testing several weeks later showed reduced recruitment pattern of motor unit action potentials in the right deltoid and teres minor muscles. The EMG was suggestive of stretch injury with demyelinating nerve injury without evidence of axon loss. The patient recovered spontaneously over the course of the following month.

The axillary nerve, along with the radial nerve, is a terminal branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates the deltoid and the teres minor and provides sensory innervation to the lateral upper part of the shoulder via the superior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve of the arm (Figs. 65-1 and 65-3). In lesions of the axillary nerve, shoulder abduction is weakened and cutaneous sensibility of the lateral shoulder diminishes, overlapping the C5 dermatome. Because the teres minor is not the predominant external rotator of the shoulder, clinical isolation and testing are difficult. EMG may be necessary to define neurogenic injury to this muscle. Most axillary neuropathies are traumatic, related to anterior shoulder dislocations, humerus fractures, or both. Recognition of nerve injury may be delayed because of the shoulder injury. Acute axillary neuropathies can result from blunt trauma or as a component or sole manifestation of brachial plexus neuritis.

Figure 65-3 Cutaneous Innervation of the Upper Limb.

Clinical Vignette

A 43-year-old woman presented to the laboratory for routine blood work after her annual physical examination. During phlebotomy in the right antecubital fossa, she experienced a sharp pain, radiating from the elbow to the wrist, which persisted for several days. She then developed numbness of the right lateral forearm. She had no weakness. Nerve conduction studies showed an absent sensory nerve action potential of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. The needle examination was normal.

The musculocutaneous nerve originates directly from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis muscles and terminates in its cutaneous branch, the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Isolated musculocutaneous neuropathies are rare. They have been reported in weight lifters, after surgery, and after prolonged pressure during sleep. Damage to the musculocutaneous nerve results in weakness of forearm flexion and supination and sensory loss of the lateral volar forearm (see Fig. 65-2). The biceps reflex is diminished, but the brachioradialis reflex (same myotome, different nerve) is preserved. More commonly, injury to this nerve occurs as part of a more widespread traumatic injury, usually involving the proximal humerus. The musculocutaneous nerve can also be preferentially involved in acute brachial plexus neuritis. Distal lesions of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve may result from attempted cannulation of the basilic vein in the antecubital fossa. Rupture of the biceps tendon is a significant differential diagnostic consideration of musculocutaneous neuropathy.

Clinical Vignette