Lateral Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment After Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Case Report

Abstract

The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LABCN) is a distal sensory branch of the musculocutaneous nerve that innervates the radial aspect of the forearm. Cases of LABCN injury from trauma and chronic compression have been reported. A case of musculocutaneous nerve injury after a biceps tenodesis has also been reported. This case report describes an LABCN injury and forearm pain after a biceps tenodesis procedure. Using a multifaceted diagnostic approach of electrodiagnostics and magnetic resonance neurography, the site of compression was appropriately localized. The patient ultimately achieved relief after a surgical decompression.

Neurologic Outcomes After Low-Volume, Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Block and Ambulatory Shoulder Surgery

“…It may not be appropriate to directly attribute them to the peripheral nerve block, especially in the absence of any evidence of large-fiber nerve injury on nerve conduction studies. 4,9 Other causes of potential nerve injury and altered cutaneous sensation in the perioperative period are numerous and include patient positioning, 12 direct surgical trauma, 13 traction or pressure on a nerve as a result of the repair, 14 and preexisting nerve dysfunction. 15 In addition, various mechanisms may be operant in the postoperative period, such as neural stretch from prolonged immobilization in a position of flexion at the elbow, or distal edema with compression, leading to symptoms of sulcus ulnaris syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome.…”

Peripheral neuropathies after shoulder arthroscopy: a systematic review

“…Based upon the MINORS criteria, 7 5 studies were low quality, 9 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 39 7 studies were moderate quality, 6 , 13 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 41 and 5 studies were high quality. 8 , 12 , 14 , 17 , 40 …”

“…A total of 91 patients were identified from 17 manuscripts. 6 , 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 40 , 41 The average patient age was 53 ± 12 years, with 58 (64%) males, 25 (27%) females, and 8 (9%) of the patients the sex was not reported ( Table I ). The most common diagnosis was a rotator cuff tear in 76 (72%) patients, followed by a labral tear (including superior labrum anterior and posterior and Bankart tears) in 9 (9%) patients, and then rotator cuff impingement in 8 (8%) patients.…”

Prevention and Treatment of Nerve Injuries in Shoulder Arthroplasty

“…In one case report, severe motor and sensory deficits resulted from tangling of the nerve within the biceps during arthroscopically assisted tenodesis 35 . In another report, open tenodesis resulted in sensory loss due to entrapment of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, presumably because of tension on the biceps muscle from the proximal tenodesis 36 . Both of these injuries improved after operative decompression.…”