title: Ultrasound imaging of the axillary nerve and its role in the diagnosis of traumatic impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The axillary nerve (AN) is frequently injured during shoulder trauma and imaging is required to define the site and extent of nerve injury. However, the AN has a rather complex course through several soft tissue compartments of the shoulder and axilla. Therefore, imaging of the nerve with MRI and sonography is troublesome. Thus detection and sonographic assessment bases on thorough knowledge of local topography.
  
  
  METHODS
  This investigation aimed at defining reliable anatomical landmarks for AN-sonography in 5 volunteers and later validating the proposed sonographic examination protocol in 10 unselected patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With strict adherence to the proposed examination algorithm, sonography of the AN was feasible in all volunteers and patients. Furthermore, sonographic findings correlated nicely with the golden standard "surgical exploration" concerning severity and topography of neural impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our study results we propose our algorithm for AN-sonography as the first-line imaging tool for the assessment of axillary nerve trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University Innsbruck.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: Radiology, CTI GesmbH and Roentgeninstitut B7, Innsbruck.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University Innsbruck.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loescher
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University Innsbruck.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loizides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001365:Axilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020422:Mononeuropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009463:Neuroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012016:Reference Values; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D014463:Ultrasonography