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Axillary nerve dysfunction - Symptom

Alternative Names

Neuropathy - axillary nerve

Symptoms:

  • Numbness over part of the outer shoulder
  • Shoulder weakness, especially when lifting the arm up and away from the body

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will examine your neck, arm, and shoulder. Weakness of the shoulder may cause difficulty moving your arm.

The deltoid muscle of the shoulder may show signs of muscle atrophy.

Tests that may be used to evaluate axillary nerve dysfunction include:

  • EMG and nerve conduction tests -- will be normal right after the injury; should be performed several weeks after the injury or symptoms start
  • MRI or x-rays of the shoulder
  • Reviewed last on: 2/5/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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