Axillary neuropathy

Background

The axillary nerve supplies innervation to:

• Deltoid
• Teres minor
• Long head of triceps
• Skin over lateral shoulder

Injury associated with anterior shoulder dislocation

Clinical Features

• Inability to abduct arm
• Decreased sensation to skin over deltoid

Differential Diagnosis

Upper extremity peripheral nerve syndromes

Median Nerve Syndromes

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pronator teres syndrome
• Anterior interosseous neuropathy

Ulnar Nerve Syndromes

• Ulnar neuropathy

Radial Nerve Syndromes

• Radial neuropathy at the spiral groove (ie. "Saturday night palsy")
• Posterior interosseous neuropathy

Proximal Neuropathies

• Suprascapular neuropathy
• Long thoracic neuropathy
• Axillary neuropathy
• Spinal accessory neuropathy
• Musculocutaneous neuropathy

Other

• Brachial plexopathy
  • Parsonage-Turner syndrome
• Cervical radiculopathy

See Also

• Anterior shoulder dislocation
• Peripheral nerve syndromes