What is the Difference Between Preganglionic and Postganglionic Brachial Plexus Injury?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that runs through the cervical spine, neck, axilla, and into the arms, responsible for muscular and cutaneous innervations of the entire upper limb. Preganglionic and postganglionic brachial plexus injuries are two different types of nerve injuries that can occur in this network. The main differences between these two types of injuries are:
- Location of the injury: Preganglionic injuries occur when the spinal roots are avulsed directly from the spinal cord or the rootlets rupture proximal to the dorsal root ganglion. In contrast, postganglionic injuries occur distal to the dorsal root ganglion.
- Avulsion of nerve roots: Preganglionic brachial plexus injury causes the avulsion of the nerve roots, while postganglionic brachial plexus injury does not.
- Diagnosis and treatment: Both injuries can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests, such as nerve conduction study, MRI, and CT myelography. Treatment options for postganglionic brachial plexus injury include pain relief, physiotherapy, and surgical repairs like neurolysis and nerve graft. However, preganglionic avulsion injury is a severe form of preganglionic nerve injury with a poor prognosis for functional recovery and no generally approved, efficient treatment.
In summary, the key difference between preganglionic and postganglionic brachial plexus injuries is the location and severity of the injury, with preganglionic injuries causing avulsion of nerve roots and postganglionic injuries not causing such avulsion.
Comparative Table: Preganglionic vs Postganglionic Brachial Plexus Injury
Here is a table comparing the differences between preganglionic and postganglionic brachial plexus injuries:
| Feature | Preganglionic Injury | Postganglionic Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Avulsion of nerve roots (proximal to dorsal root ganglion) | Injury to nerve roots distal to dorsal root ganglion |
| Presentation | Severe muscle atrophy, especially in biceps short head and triceps long head | Moderate muscle atrophy, and more preserved muscle length |
| Shoulder Deformity | More severe contractures, including retroversion, declination, and flattening of the glenoid fossa | Lesser severity of contractures and bone deformities |
| Diagnosis | Physical examination, EMG (electromyography), myelogram, and histamine test | Physical examination, X-ray, EMG (electromyography), nerve conduction study, MRI, and CT myelography |
| Treatment Options | Pain control and surgical repair | Pain relievers, physiotherapy, and surgical repairs (neurolysis and nerve graft) |
In summary, preganglionic brachial plexus injuries involve the avulsion of nerve roots and result in more severe muscle atrophy and shoulder deformities, while postganglionic injuries are less severe and involve the injury to nerve roots distal to the dorsal root ganglion. The diagnosis and treatment options for both types of injuries vary accordingly.
- Preganglionic vs Postganglionic Neurons
- Cranial vs Spinal Nerves
- Dermatomes vs Peripheral Nerves
- Central vs Peripheral Nervous System
- Polyneuropathy vs Peripheral Neuropathy
- Brainstem vs Spinal Cord
- Meissner’s vs Auerbach’s Plexus
- Sensory vs Motor Nerves
- Axonal vs Demyelinating Neuropathy
- Precentral vs Postcentral Gyrus
- Neurogenic Shock vs Spinal Shock
- Paresthesia vs Paralysis
- Innervated vs Denervated Muscles
- Paresis vs Paralysis
- Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Pinched Nerve vs Pulled Muscle
- Nociceptive vs Neuropathic Pain
- Nerve Pain vs Muscle Pain
- Guillain Barre Syndrome vs Myasthenia Gravis