AXILLARY NERVE INJURY

Course overview

PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY CAN VARY WILDLY IN SEVERITY AND PRESENTATION, RANGING FROM MILD SORENESS TO SEVERE MUSCLE WEAKNESS. AXILLARY NERVE INJURIES TYPICALLY RESPOND WELL TO CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT, THOUGH A SURGICAL INTERVENTION MAY BE REQUIRED. FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE AND MANAGE PATIENTS MAY LEAD TO LIFE-LONG DISABILITY THAT CAN AFFECT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. WHILE AXILLARY NERVE LESIONS ARE SOMEWHAT RARE, THEY MUST BE CONSIDERED IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH SHOULDER WEAKNESS AND SENSORY LOSS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH AXILLARY NERVE INJURIES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.