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Neurovascular Injuries with Shoulder Surgery

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Normal and Pathological Anatomy of the Shoulder

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Abstract

Neurovascular injuries following shoulder surgery are uncommon; however, the potential morbidity represented by these injuries is high. Surgeons who operate on this area must have a sound knowledge of the neurovascular anatomy in order to minimise the risk of iatrogenic injury.

Vascular injuries are less common than neurological injuries. Arterial injury may result in pseudoaneurysms , which may not be symptomatic for months or years from the time of injury. Venous injuries are clinically obvious during the procedure. The larger, more central veins cannot collapse, introducing the potential risk of air embolism developing.

Neurological lesions are usually transient and self-limiting, affecting the brachial plexus or the axillary nerve . However, permanent injuries have occurred.

Knowledge of the pathoanatomical processes is essential for both prevention and management of these injuries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Harry D. S. Clitherow MBChB, FRACS

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Modbury Public Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Harry D. S. Clitherow MBChB, FRACS

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Gregory I. Bain PhD, MBBS, FRACS, FA(Ortho)A

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Gregory I. Bain PhD, MBBS, FRACS, FA(Ortho)A

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  1. Harry D. S. Clitherow MBChB, FRACS
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  2. Gregory I. Bain PhD, MBBS, FRACS, FA(Ortho)A
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Correspondence to Harry D. S. Clitherow MBChB, FRACS .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Gregory I. Bain

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan

    Eiji Itoi

  3. Orthopaedic, Concordia Hospital for Special Surgery, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Di Giacomo

  4. Funabashi Orthopaedic Sports Med Cn Shoulder & Elbow Service, Chiba, Japan

    Hiroyuki Sugaya

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Clitherow, H.D.S., Bain, G.I. (2015). Neurovascular Injuries with Shoulder Surgery. In: Bain, G., Itoi, E., Di Giacomo, G., Sugaya, H. (eds) Normal and Pathological Anatomy of the Shoulder. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45719-1_35

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