Osteomyelitis as a cause of brachial plexus neuropathy
S. A. Clay
Two infants, younger than 2 months of age, had brachial plexus involvement
and true paralysis secondary to osteomyelitis of the proximal humerus. To
date, no previous cases of this association have been reported.
Electromyography (EMG) demonstrated significant denervation in muscles
innervated by the upper trunk, with scattered involvement of other muscles.
Nerve conduction velocities were normal in both patients. Both patients had
significant residual weakness after appropriate antibiotic therapy. One
patient, 12 months after therapy for osteomyelitis, continued to
demonstrate both clinical and EMG evidence of a lower motor neuron
neuropathy. The pathophysiologic cause was thought to be ischemic nerve
damage secondary to occlusion of vasa nervorum.
