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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2013; 74(S 01): e225-e228
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1343987
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Serious Axillary Nerve Injury Caused by Subscapular Artery Compression Resulting from Use of Backpacks

Pavel Haninec
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
,
Libor Mencl
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
,
Peter Bačinský
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Vojtech Spanyol's Hospital Žilina, Slovak Republic
,
Radek Kaiser
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

29 November 2012

11 February 2013

Publication Date:
21 May 2013 (online)

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Abstract

A palsy of the brachial plexus elements caused by carrying a heavy backpack is a very rare injury usually occurring in soldiers or hikers, and recovery is usually spontaneous. We describe here the case of male civilian presenting with an isolated serious axillary nerve palsy associated with chronic backpack use. During the surgery, a dumbbell-shaped neuroma-in-continuity was found which was caused by direct pressure from the subscapular artery. After resection of the neuroma, a nerve graft from the sural nerve was used to reconstruct the nerve. Reinnervation was successful and the patient was able to abduct his arm to its full range, with full muscle strength, within 24 months.

Keywords

axillary nerve palsy - brachial plexus injury - axillary nerve repair - neurorrhaphy - nerve graft repair
 

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