Brachial Plexus Injury (2)

Question 1

How is perinatal brachial plexus injury most commonly caused?

Answer 1

A traction injury during delivery

Question 2

What are risk factors of perinatal brachial plexus injury?

Answer 2

Shoulder dystocia (catching of shoulder)

Birth weight > 90th percentile

Prolonged labor

Breech delivery

Question 3

Where can damage occur at different peripheral levels?

Answer 3

Nerve rootlets attached to spinal cord

Anterior or posterior nerve rootlets

Spinal nerve

Question 4

What is neurotmesis?

Answer 4

Rupture

Question 5

What is axonotmesis?

Answer 5

Axon injury (Endoneurium intact)

Question 6

What is neurapraxia?

Answer 6

Temp conduction block (axons intact)

Question 7

At what rate does axon regrowth occur?

Answer 7

1mm per day

Question 8

How long does axon regrowth take in the upper arm?

Answer 8

4-6 months

Question 9

How long does axon regrowth take in the lower arm?

Answer 9

7-9 months

Question 10

What levels are affected in Erb’s palsy?

Answer 10

C5-6 (waiters tip)

Question 11

What levels are affected in global palsy?

Answer 11

C5-T1

Question 12

What levels are affected in Klumpke’s palsy?

Answer 12

C8-T1

Question 13

What levels are affected in horners syndrome?

Answer 13

T1 root Avulsion

Question 14

What happens in Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 14

Disruption of sympathetic ganglion

Question 15

What are the symptoms of horners syndrome?

Answer 15

Ptosis

Abnormal pupillary contraction

Myosis

Lack of sweating on effect side