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Spinal Accessory Nerve Entrapment

  • Chapter
Peripheral Nerve Entrapments

Abstract

The spinal accessory nerve, the 11th cranial nerve, innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. It has a long superficial course in the neck, which makes it prone to injury with neck trauma or surgical interventions. Patients will present with weakness of the innervated muscles, myofascial pain, winged scapula, and shoulder pain. The symptoms can vary based on the extent of injury. The diagnosis is mainly based on the history and physical exam, although EMG, CT, and MRI can occasionally add certainty to the diagnosis. Treatment is based on physical therapy, rehabilitation and medication management, but if these options are exhausted, surgical solutions are available. Following a positive diagnostic injection, neurolytic procedures, surgical nerve repair or nerve transplant can be performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP

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  1. Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP
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Correspondence to Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pain and Headache Center, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Andrea M. Trescot MD, ABIPP, FIPP (Medical Director) (Medical Director)

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Stogicza, A.R. (2016). Spinal Accessory Nerve Entrapment. In: Trescot, A.M. (eds) Peripheral Nerve Entrapments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27480-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27482-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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