Axillary nervepalsy following blunt traumatothe shoulder region: aclinical andelectrophysiolog ical

SUMMARY Although thecommonesttypeofaxillary nerve palsy occursfollowing shoulder dislocation on humeral fracture, another formisseenafter blunt traumatotheshoulder region without associated fracture ordislocation. Theformer usually goes on toafull recoverywhereas a failure torecoveriscommon inthelatter group.Inourreview of13patients withpalsy after blunt shoulder trauma,sevenpatients showedminimal or no recoveryofdeltoid muscle function andsix patients wenton tocomplete or nearcomplete recovery.Serial electromyographic examinations usually revealed thelesion tobeincontinuity although eventual clinical recovery was not satisfactory inanumberofthese patients. Themechanism ofthepalsy appeared toinvolve astretch injury andthis was confirmed atoperation intwo patients. Glenohumeral fixation was a troublesome complication whichlimited recoveryoffunction infourpatients. Further details ofthe typeoftrauma,clinical andelectromyographic examination, assessment andmanagementare discussed.