Granata G, Tomasello F, Sciarrone MA, Stifano V, Lauretti L, Luigetti M. Neuralgic Amyotrophy and Hourglass Nerve Constriction/Nerve Torsion: Two Sides of the Same Coin? A Clinical Review.
Brain Sci 2024;
14:67. [PMID:
38248282 PMCID:
PMC10813384 DOI:
10.3390/brainsci14010067]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuralgic amyotrophy, also called Parsonage-Turner syndrome, in its classic presentation is a brachial plexopathy or a multifocal neuropathy, involving mainly motor nerves of the upper limb with a monophasic course. Recently, a new radiological entity was described, the hourglass constriction, which is characterized by a very focal constriction of a nerve, or part of it, usually associated with nerve thickening proximally and distally to the constriction. Another condition, which is similar from a radiological point of view to hourglass constriction, is nerve torsion. The pathophysiology of neuralgic amyotrophy, hourglass constriction and nerve torsion is still poorly understood, and a generic role of inflammation is proposed for all these conditions. It is now widely accepted that nerve imaging is necessary in identifying hourglass constrictions/nerve torsion pre-surgically in patients with an acute mononeuropathy/plexopathy. Ultrasound and MRI are useful tools for diagnosis, and they are consistent with intraoperative findings. The prognosis is generally favorable after surgery, with a high rate of good motor recovery.
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