Neuralgic Amyotrophy (Brachial Neuritis)
Aetiology
- Believed to be due to a viral infection of the cervical nerve roots as there is often a history of antecedent viral infection
Clinically
- Pain in the shoulder & arm
- intense
- sudden onset
- may extent into the neck & down into the hand
- Usually lasts several days but may continue for several weeks
- Associated with
- paraesthesia of the arm & hand
- weakness of the muscles of the shoulder, forearm & hand
- Wasting of the shoulder & small muscles of the hand
- may be evident after only a few days
- winging of the scapula is common
- Decreased Shoulder movement
- limited by pain
- sensory loss in one or more of the cervical dermatomes is not uncommon
Differential Diagnosis
- Differentiated from an acute disc herniation as it involves multiple root levels
Treatment
- No specific treatment & pain controlled by analgesics
Prognosis
- Usually good but full neurological recovery may take several months or even years
Webpage Last Modified:
18 February, 2010