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Brachial plexus lesion (lower)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Lower brachial plexus lesions involve C8 and T1. They are the result of traction on the arm in an abducted position - e.g. during a difficult labour; or at birth - Dejerine Klumpke's palsy.

The patient presents with a claw hand - the result of paralysis of the intrinsic hand muscles; sensory loss along the ulnar side of the hand and the forearm (first thoracic dermatome); and if the T1 root is affected, possibly, a Horner's syndrome from interruption of sympathetic innervation at that level.

Note that a combined ulnar and median nerve lesion produces a similar picture in the hand but with additional involvement of flexor carpi radialis and pronator teres.


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