title: Neuralgic amyotrophy: An update on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment.
abstract: In this review we provide a current overview of the clinical features, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in neuralgic amyotrophy (NA). The disorder has several phenotypic variations, with a classic form in 70% of the patients. It is not rare, with an incidence of 1 per 1,000 individuals, but it is still often missed. Recurrences are common, yet the proposed multifactorial etiology, which includes genetic, biomechanical, and immunologic factors, limits our capacity to predict or prevent them. NA is a clinical diagnosis, and ancillary studies serve to exclude infectious or malignant causes or to assess a differential diagnosis. If patients are seen early and are still in pain, a short trial of high-dose oral corticosteroids is advised, and adequate analgesia may require opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Persistent complaints are common, and a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach focusing on scapular coordination, energy distribution strategies, and self-management is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.|Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Van Eijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500, HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Groothuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nens
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Alfen
mesh_terms: D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans
keywords: brachial plexus; clinical feature; diagnosis; neuralgic amyotrophy; treatment