Axillary neuropathy

Background

Axilary nerve

• The axillary nerve supplies innervation to:
  • Deltoid
  • Teres minor
  • Long head of triceps
  • Skin over lateral shoulder

Clinical Features

Cutaneous innervation of the upper limb

• Injury associated with the following injuries:
  • Anterior shoulder dislocation
  • Inferior shoulder dislocation
  • Proximal humerus fracture
• Weak arm abduction (from 15 to 90 degrees)
• Weak shoulder flexion, extension and rotation of shoulder
• Decreased sensation of upper lateral arm (over deltoid)

Differential Diagnosis

Upper extremity peripheral nerve syndromes

Median Nerve Syndromes

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pronator teres syndrome
• Anterior interosseous neuropathy

Ulnar Nerve Syndromes

• Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and wrist

Radial Nerve Syndromes

• Radial neuropathy at the spiral groove (ie. "Saturday night palsy")
• Posterior interosseous neuropathy

Proximal Neuropathies

• Suprascapular neuropathy
• Long thoracic neuropathy
• Axillary neuropathy
• Spinal accessory neuropathy
• Musculocutaneous neuropathy

Other

• Brachial plexopathy
• Cervical rediculopathy

Evaluation

• Typically a clinical diagnosis in the ED

See Also

• Anterior shoulder dislocation
• Peripheral nerve syndromes

References

Authors

Jonathan Osgood, Ross Donaldson, Michael O'Brien, MD