Axillary nerve dysfunction

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Damaged axillary nerve

Axillary nerve dysfunction

Alternative Names:

Neuropathy - axillary nerve
Symptoms:

Numbness over part of the outer shoulder
Shoulder weakness
- Difficulty lifting objects with the affected arm
- Difficulty lifting arm above the head

Signs and tests:

A neuromuscular examination of the arm and shoulder indicates axillary nerve dysfunction. There may be weakness of the shoulder, with difficulty moving the arm.

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The deltoid muscle of the shoulder may show signs of muscle atrophy. A detailed history may be needed to determine the possible cause of the neuropathy.

Tests that reveal axillary nerve dysfunction may include:

An EMG (a recording of electrical activity in muscles)
A nerve biopsy (may reveal systemic causes for the dysfunction)
An MRI to rule out lesions of the cervical spine or nerve roots

Tests are given based on the suspected cause of the dysfunction suggested by the patient's history, symptoms, and pattern of symptom development. They may include various blood tests, x-rays, scans, or other tests.