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Musculocutaneous Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion

  • Electrodiagnostic Corner
  • Published:
HSS Journal

Abstract

The musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus and contains fibers from the C5, C6, and C7 spinal nerve roots. It innervates such muscles as the biceps brachii and brachialis as well as supply branches to the skin over the lateral cubital and forearm regions via the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Musculocutaneous neuropathy can arise from exercise, participating in sports, strenuous activity, cast placement, trauma, and surgery in addition to other less understood causes such as Parsonage Turner syndrome. We present the case of a 55-year-old female who complained of numbness, weakness, and pain throughout the arm starting 1 day following a surgical procedure. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed a musculocutaneous neuropathy with significant axonal injury. Symptoms of musculocutaneous neuropathy may be similar to cervical spinal nerve root impingement or brachial plexus lesions. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging and electrodiagnostic studies may be useful in differentiating between these conditions. Once the diagnosis of musculocutaneous neuropathy has been made, treatments include relative rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, splinting, physical therapy, and surgical decompression in cases that do not respond to conservative management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiatry, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Vincenzo Castellano MD, Christopher Lutz MD & Joseph H. Feinberg MD, MS

  2. SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Diana Besleaga BS

  3. Weill Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Vincenzo Castellano MD, Christopher Lutz MD & Joseph H. Feinberg MD, MS

Authors
  1. Diana Besleaga BS
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  2. Vincenzo Castellano MD
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  3. Christopher Lutz MD
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  4. Joseph H. Feinberg MD, MS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincenzo Castellano MD.

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of this case, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Besleaga, D., Castellano, V., Lutz, C. et al. Musculocutaneous Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion. HSS Jrnl 6, 112–116 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-009-9143-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-009-9143-6

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