Diagnosis of Cervical Root and Peripheral Nerve Lesions Affecting the Arm

Abstract

The neurological anatomy of the arm is very intimidating at undergraduate level and many physicians are consequently reluctant to attempt an accurate anatomical diagnosis. There is also a widely held misconception that plexus lesions are a frequent cause of disease affecting the nerve supply of the arms. The anatomy of the brachial plexus is daunting. Plexus lesions are quite rare in most civilized countries, with a frequency proportional to the deliberate or accidental misuse of firearms and knives. There are few disease processes that primarily affect the brachial plexus other than the difficult differential diagnosis between recurrent carcinoma of the breast and delayed radiation fibrosis, which is discussed in detail later.