Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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🦾 Nerve | 🧩 Roots | ⚙️ Mechanism / Common Causes | 🩺 Key Findings |
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Axillary | C5–C6 | Shoulder dislocation, humeral neck fracture, trauma | ❌ Sensation outer shoulder; weak deltoid/teres minor → impaired abduction (30–90°) |
Suprascapular | C5–C6 | Shoulder trauma, entrapment at suprascapular notch, overhead activity | ⬇️ Supraspinatus (abduction start) & infraspinatus (external rotation) |
Long Thoracic | C5–C7 | Heavy lifting, mastectomy, axillary surgery | 🪽 Winged scapula; weak serratus anterior; difficulty pushing/elevating arm |
Radial | C5–T1 | Humeral shaft fracture, crutch palsy, axilla compression | ✋ Wrist drop; weak grip; sensory loss dorsum hand/posterior arm |
Median | C5–T1 | Carpal tunnel, wrist laceration, supracondylar fracture | 🐒 “Ape hand”; loss of thumb opposition; lateral 3½ finger sensory loss; cannot make “OK” sign |
Ulnar | C8–T1 | Medial epicondyle fracture, cubital tunnel, Guyon’s canal compression | 🦀 “Claw hand”; weak interossei (finger ab/adduction); sensory loss medial 1½ fingers |
Femoral | L2–L4 | Pelvic fracture, hip surgery, lithotomy position | 🦵 Weak hip flexion/knee extension; ↓ patellar reflex; sensory loss anterior thigh & medial leg |
Sciatic | L4–S3 | Hip dislocation, pelvic trauma, prolonged compression | 🦿 Weak knee flexion & all movements below knee; sensory loss posterior thigh/leg/foot; foot drop if peroneal branch affected |
Common Peroneal | L4–S2 | Fibular head fracture, leg crossing, squatting | 👣 Foot drop; weak dorsiflexion/eversion; sensory loss dorsum foot & lateral shin |
Tibial | L4–S3 | Knee or ankle trauma, tarsal tunnel compression | 🦶 Weak plantarflexion, inversion, toe flexion; sensory loss sole of foot |
Obturator | L2–L4 | Pelvic trauma or surgery | 🚶 Weak thigh adduction; sensory loss medial thigh; difficulty crossing legs |
Peripheral nerve injuries require anatomical understanding + early intervention. With timely therapy, many patients (especially children) regain excellent function. 🌟