Isolated medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury after blunt trauma: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve is a branch of the brachial plexus that contains C8–T1 segments. Injury of this nerve by various mechanisms has been reported in the literature; however, currently, there is no reported case of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury in the setting of acute blunt trauma. Case presentation This case report presents the case of a 34-year-old Persian female with dysesthesia and pain in the medial side of the forearm immediately following a blunt trauma by mechanism of elbow external rotation. On electrodiagnostic evaluation, the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve sensory nerve action potential of the symptomatic side had a significant amplitude drop (more than 50%), compared with the other side. On follow-up electrodiagnosis, after several sessions of physical therapy, the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve sensory nerve action potential still had a significant amplitude difference. Conclusion Blunt trauma can be one of the causes of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve involvement. An electrodiagnostic study can be helpful in the diagnosis of this nerve injury after blunt trauma.

Keywords

• Blunt trauma
• Electrodiagnosis
• Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury
• MAC nerve injury