Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2009 , Vol 55 , Num 2

Brachial Neuritis Presenting with Isolated Long Thoracic Nerve Involvement

Aynur Karagöz 1 ,Hatice Rana Erdem 2 ,Barış Nacır 3 ,Hakan Genç 3 ,Burcu Duyur Çakıt 4
1 Sağlık Bakanlığı, Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Kırşehir, Türkiye
3 Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
4 Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 2. Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara

Brachial neuritis is a sudden onset disorder characterized by  severe pain and weakness of the shoulder and upper extremities. Pain is followed by motor weakness, sensory and reflex impairments. Electroneuromyography is the most valuable method for the diagnosis of brachial neuritis. Early and definite diagnosis is important to prevent unnecessary procedures including surgical interventions. Here we report a patient admitted to our outpatient clinics with a 3-4 day history of sudden onset of severe pain and motor weakness of shoulder muscles. Due to his scapular winging and specific ENMG findings, he was diagnosed as brachial neuritis presenting with isolated nervus thoracicus longus neuropathy. 

Keywords : Brachial neuritis, long thoracic nerve, electroneuromyography