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Anatomy

Upper Limb

Question 5 of 239

Following a road traffic collision, a patient sustains damage to the long thoracic nerve. Which of the following clinical findings would you most expect to see on examination:

Answer:

Damage to the long thoracic nerve results in weakness/paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle. Loss of function of this muscle causes the medial border, and particularly the inferior angle, of the scapula to elevate away from the thoracic wall, resulting in the characteristic 'winging' of the scapula. This deformity becomes more pronounced if the patient presses the upper limb against a wall. Furthermore, normal elevation of the arm is no longer possible.

Long Thoracic Nerve Injury

Anatomy / Upper Limb / Innervation of Upper Limb

Last Updated: 8th April 2019

Clinical Anatomy

The long thoracic nerve is prone to injury due to its excessive length and superficial location on the lateral thoracic wall on the external surface of the serratus anterior muscle, just deep to skin and subcutaneous fascia.

Mechanism of Injury

Injury to this nerve may occur due to:

  • Trauma or surgery
  • A direct blow to the rib area
  • Overstretching or strenuous repetitive movements of the arms
  • Sustained bearing of excessive weight over the shoulder

Clinical Features

Damage to the long thoracic nerve results in weakness/paralysis of the serratus anterior muscle.

Loss of function of this muscle causes the medial border, and particularly the inferior angle, of the scapula to elevate away from the thoracic wall, resulting in the characteristic 'winging' of the scapula. This deformity becomes more pronounced if the patient presses the upper limb against a wall.

Furthermore, normal elevation of the arm is no longer possible.

By kaurjmeb [CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Winging of the Scapula. (Image by kaurjmeb [CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

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  • Biochemistry
  • Blood Gases
  • Haematology
Biochemistry Normal Value
Sodium 135 – 145 mmol/l
Potassium 3.0 – 4.5 mmol/l
Urea 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/l
Glucose 3.5 – 5.0 mmol/l
Creatinine 35 – 135 μmol/l
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) 5 – 35 U/l
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) < 65 U/l
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) 30 – 135 U/l
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) < 40 U/l
Total Protein 60 – 80 g/l
Albumin 35 – 50 g/l
Globulin 2.4 – 3.5 g/dl
Amylase < 70 U/l
Total Bilirubin 3 – 17 μmol/l
Calcium 2.1 – 2.5 mmol/l
Chloride 95 – 105 mmol/l
Phosphate 0.8 – 1.4 mmol/l
Haematology Normal Value
Haemoglobin 11.5 – 16.6 g/dl
White Blood Cells 4.0 – 11.0 x 109/l
Platelets 150 – 450 x 109/l
MCV 80 – 96 fl
MCHC 32 – 36 g/dl
Neutrophils 2.0 – 7.5 x 109/l
Lymphocytes 1.5 – 4.0 x 109/l
Monocytes 0.3 – 1.0 x 109/l
Eosinophils 0.1 – 0.5 x 109/l
Basophils < 0.2 x 109/l
Reticulocytes < 2%
Haematocrit 0.35 – 0.49
Red Cell Distribution Width 11 – 15%
Blood Gases Normal Value
pH 7.35 – 7.45
pO2 11 – 14 kPa
pCO2 4.5 – 6.0 kPa
Base Excess -2 – +2 mmol/l
Bicarbonate 24 – 30 mmol/l
Lactate < 2 mmol/l

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