Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: General Orthopaedics
Abstract number: 25856
AMYOTROPHIC NEURALGIA - HIGHLY UNDERDIAGNOSED DISEASE. REVIEW
OF 10 CASES.
Konrad Sebastian WRONKA 1 , Amit SINHA 2
1 Poole Hospital NHS Trust, Poole (UNITED KINGDOM), 2 Glan Clwyd Hospital, North
Wales, Rhyl (UNITED KINGDOM)
Background: Amyotrophic neuralgia (neuralgic amyotrophy) is rather rare condition
affecting shoulder and upper limb. It is inflamatory disease affecting brachial plexus.
Its etiology and natural history is not well known Methods: In our study we
retrospectivelly reviewed history of 10 patients treated in Glan Clwyd Hospital, North
Wales between 2001 and 2008. All of them had nerve conduction studies confirming
above diagnosis. Results: There were 3 women and 7 men diagnosed with
amyotrophic neuralgia. Left and right shoulder were equally affected. Mean age was
41 (from 20 to 72). Time from onset of symptoms till presentation varied from 2
weeks to 24 months. It was precipitated by flu like infection in 2 cases, in 3 cases
patient did recollect some minor trauma prior to onset of symptoms. In 9 cases there
was some degree of palsy of one or more of brachial plexus nerves. In all cases
diagnosis was confirmed by nerve conduction studies. All patients were treated with
NSAIDs and physiotherapy. 8 of 10 patients did complete recovery within 12 months
(range 6 weeks-12 months), 2 patient suffered long term disability and were forced to
change their occupation, 1 required shoulder arthrodesis. Conclusion: Neuralgic
neuralgia is an inflamatory disease affecting brachial plexus. It is often associated
with previous minor infection (20%), but often cause remains unknown. Nerve
conduction studies are the investigation of choice. Disease is usually self limiting, but
in some cases may lead to chronic pain and disability
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