Injuries and Disorders of Peripheral Nerves:
Peripheral nerves are pathways that carry nerve impulses from the brain to target organs (e.g., voluntary muscles) and vice versa (from sensory target organs back to the brain). Voluntary bodily movement and sensory perception can function properly only with the preserved integrity of the peripheral nervous system.
The loss of peripheral nerve function can be caused by various internal as well as external factors. Systemic diseases, such as polyneuropathy or diabetic neuropathy in the context of multi-organ disease, can lead to functional impairment of peripheral nerves. Damage to peripheral nerves from open as well as closed traumatic injuries can cause severe corresponding deficits. Furthermore, a peripheral nerve can be compromised by trauma to adjacent anatomical structures (e.g., late-onset scar tissue formation) as well as age- and population-dependent nerve canal entrapments. Peripheral nerve lesions can generally be classified into the following categories:
- Idiopathic Compression Neuropathy (Nerve Entrapment Syndromes)
- Compression of individual nerves (CTS, CbTS, TTS, Peroneal Syndrome, TOS)
- As part of a systemic disease (e.g., polyneuropathy, diabetes, lepra, etc.)
- Peripheral Nerve Injuries
- Open injuries – gunshot, stab, and iatrogenic injuries
- Closed injuries – stretch or traction trauma of the nerves and brachial plexus
- Brachial Plexus Palsy
- Facial Nerve Palsy
- Acquired facial palsy (e.g., post-traumatic, post-tumorous, or iatrogenic)
- Congenital facial palsy (e.g., Möbius syndrome)
- Peripheral Nerve Tumors (benign and malignant)
- Of individual nerves (e.g., schwannoma, MPNST)
- As part of systemic conditions (e.g., neurofibromatosis)
- As part of regional conditions (e.g., schwannomatosis)
- Neuropathic Pain & Neuromodulation