Traumatic brachial plexopathy

Case contributed by Dalia Ibrahim
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

History of trauma and communited left clavicular shaft fracture, followed by left arm weakness and loss of sensation.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years old
Gender: Female
mri

Comminuted left calvicular shaft fracture.

The left brachial plexus near the clavicular shaft fracture (at the level of the divisions & cords) are thickened,irregular and swollen showing abnormal signal being of high signal at T2 & STIR WI yet with no nerve fiber disruption, surrounding soft tissue edema is seen.

No root avulsion or pseudomeningoceles.

Annotated image

Comminuted left calvicular shaft fracture. (Blue arrows)

The left brachial plexus near the clavicular shaft fracture (at the level of the divisions & cords) are thickened,irregular and hyperintense (compared to the contralateral side) with surrounding soft tissue edema.(Red arrows)

The third demonstrates the normal right brachial plexus (blue arrow) and the injured left brachial plexus (red arrow)

Case Discussion

This case demonstrates an example of post ganglionic neuropraxic injury.

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