AXILLARY NERVE PALSY FOLLOWING BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE SHOULDER REGION - A CLINICAL AND ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEW

In a review of 13 patients with palsy after blunt shoulder trauma, 7 patients showed minimal or no recovery of deltoid muscle function and 6 patients went on to complete or near complete recovery. Serial electromyographic examinations usually revealed the lesion to be in continuity although eventual clinical recovery was not satisfactory in a number of these patients. The mechanism of the palsy appeared to involve a stretch injury and this was confirmed at operation in 2 patients. Glenohumeral fixation was a troublesome complication which limited recovery of function in 4 patients. Further details of the type of trauma, clinical and electromyographic examination, assessment and management are discussed.