Brachial Plexus Injury in Sports Medicine Follow-up

  • Author: Thomas H Trojian, MD; Chief Editor: Sherwin SW Ho, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 5, 2010
 

Return to Play

Clinical findings are key in determining an athlete's possibility of returning to play. Full recovery of affected muscles must be determined to prevent further injury and recurrence of burner syndrome. Athletes in contact sports involving the neck should be able to support their weight at the neck leaning at a 45° angle. If this is possible without symptoms, then return to play is highly probable.

Some athletes may have very mild residual asymmetry in strength as a result of the initial injury. Close attention should be paid to the degree of disparity in extremity strength as the athlete returns to participation. Serial EMGs may be of little utility in this setting, as EMG changes can persist for months to years. However, in the setting of an acute change in strength pattern, reassessment may be warranted.

Recurrent stingers warrant assessment of equipment, inclusion of a cowboy collar for football players, and the coach to assess tackling technique.

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Complications

Chronic burner syndrome

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Prevention

Use protective equipment (eg, neck rolls, air cushions) in football players. Proper technique in contact sports (eg, tackling) is necessary, and improper methods (eg, spearing) should be discouraged. Coaches and referees involved with heavy contact sports also should discourage unnecessary tackling and contact. Cervical and paracervical muscular strengthening and conditioning are recommended.

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Prognosis

Prognosis is good, yet some possibility of chronic symptoms may remain.

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Education

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Back, Ribs, Neck, and Head Center and Sports Injury Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Shoulder and Neck Pain and Neck Strain.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Thomas H Trojian, MD  Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Department of Family Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Team Physician, University of Connecticut, Hartford FoxForce

Thomas H Trojian, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Janos P Ertl, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine; Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, Wishard Hospital

Janos P Ertl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, Hungarian Medical Association of America, and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Jon B Whitehurst, MD  Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital

Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago

Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America

Disclosure: Breg, Inc. Consulting fee Consulting; Biomet, Inc. Consulting fee Consulting; GMV, Inc. Arthroscopy Simulator Evaluation and teaching; Smith and Nephew Grant/research funds Fellowship funding; DJ Ortho Grant/research funds Course funding

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