Pressure-specified sensory device versus electrodiagnostic testing in brachial plexus upper trunk injury

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Brachial plexus upper trunk injuries can cause winged scapula due to the proximity of the long thoracic nerve and upper trunk.
• Needle electromyography (EMG) is a standard diagnostic tool but often fails to detect these injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD) as an alternative diagnostic tool for brachial plexus upper trunk injuries.
• To compare the sensitivity of PSSD with needle EMG in patients with winged scapula.

Main Methods:

• Thirty patients with winged scapula and confirmed upper trunk injury were assessed.
• Needle EMG was performed on biceps (C6) and deltoid/spinati (C5) muscles.
• PSSD testing was conducted on the dorsal hand skin (C6) and deltoid skin (C5).

Main Results:

• PSSD showed significantly higher pressure values on the affected arm compared to the unaffected arm.
• PSSD demonstrated significantly greater sensitivity than needle EMG in detecting upper trunk injuries.
• PSSD identified injuries that were not detected by conventional EMG.

Conclusions:

• The pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD) is a more effective diagnostic tool than needle EMG for brachial plexus upper trunk injuries.
• PSSD offers improved sensitivity for detecting nerve damage associated with winged scapula.