Virtual Didactic - Bell’s Palsy of the Brachial Plexus Led by Erik Ensrud, MD-Bell’s Palsy of the Brachial Plexus Led by Erik Ensrud, MD

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discusses Parsonage-Turner syndrome, also known as brachial neuritis or neurologic amyotrophy. It is a rare condition characterized by sudden and severe shoulder and arm pain followed by weakness and atrophy of the affected muscles. The speaker emphasizes the importance of early recognition and examination of the infraspinatus and scapular winging for diagnosis. He also highlights the need for prompt treatment with a short course of steroids to improve outcomes. The speaker discusses the potential factors that can contribute to ongoing pain and disability in Parsonage-Turner syndrome, such as delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and non-physiologic factors like disability payments. He encourages physiatrists to be proactive in the management of this condition and to provide specialized shoulder physical therapy for patients. The speaker concludes by discussing the incidence of Parsonage-Turner syndrome and its implications for healthcare delivery. He suggests that the true incidence may be higher than reported and calls for further research and patient advocacy in this area.

Keywords

Parsonage-Turner syndrome

brachial neuritis

neurologic amyotrophy

shoulder and arm pain

muscle weakness

muscle atrophy

infraspinatus examination

scapular winging

steroid treatment