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Parsonage Turner syndrome aka Neuralgic amyotrophy
30 cases per 100,000
Under recognized and often missed
Unknown cause, perhaps post viral. Also reported post stress (surgery, pregnancy)
Can be B/L in 10 to 30%
CC: sudden onset of severe pain in the shoulder.
Can last for hours to weeks.
Radiates to upper arm.
As pain begins to subside, muscle weakness and sensory loss follows.
Can preferentially involve the suprascapular and axillary nerve.
Outpatient workup may include MRI and EMG
Treatment: Supportive. Consider a trial of oral steroids. Provide good pain control.
Majority of patients improve within 3 months. Though up to a third have persistent pain/functional deficit.