Acute nerve palsy: axillary/long thoracic nerve

Signs & symptoms

• Neuropathy.
• Nerve palsy - Acute foot drop/ hand drop/ Saturday Night Palsy/ Long thoracic nerve.
  Consider Post shoulder dislocation.
• Involuntary tremors.
• Bradykinesia.
• Global Muscle stiffness rigidity.
• Lack of facial expression.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Visual disturbances.
• Altered gait or balance issues.
• Muscle spasms.
• Progressive power loss.
• Upper motor neuron signs.
• Cranial nerve disturbances.

Risk Factors

• Compression/entrapment neuropathies.
• Infection.
• Trauma/surgery.
• Family history of neurological disease.
• Central cause- MS/ MND Brain Ca.
• Neuropathy-any metabolic condition, alcoholism, hormonal imbalance, chemo, drug overdose/ toxin exposure.
• Autoimmune conditions.

Dependent on presentation follow ED/ Neurology/ orthopaedic pathway.