What does the long thoracic nerve innervate?

The long thoracic nerve (LTN) forms directly from the cervical spinal nerves root of C5, C6, and C7. It is a pure motor nerve that innervates only the serratus anterior muscle.

What happens when thoracodorsal nerve is damaged?

An intact thoracodorsal nerve may also cause atrophy of the muscle, which can lead to shoulder and arm weakness that hampers numerous common movements, including standing up from a chair.

Is the long thoracic nerve the same as the thoracodorsal nerve?

The long thoracic nerve arises from the posterior aspect of C5, C6, and often C7 ventral rami. It travels within the scalenus medius muscle. It then runs over the lateral surface of the serratus anterior supplying it with multiple branches. The thoracodorsal nerve (C6, C7, and C8) arises from the posterior cord.

What are the symptoms of long thoracic nerve damage?

Damage of the long thoracic nerve may result in abnormal protruding of the scapula or shoulder blade, commonly known as winged scapula….The major symptoms associated with long thoracic nerve palsy, include:

  • Shoulder pain.
  • Winged scapula.
  • Reduced overhead activity.

How do you know if you have long thoracic nerve damage?

Typical signs and symptoms are as follows: Observable scapular winging at rest (usually inferior border only), with overhead movements, or resisted wall push-ups/push-ups whereby the entire scapula demonstrates winging (see figure 2). Pain around the base of the neck, deltoid, and scapula.

Is the thoracodorsal nerve a peripheral nerve?

The thoracodorsal nerve is a nerve present in humans and other animals, also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle….

Thoracodorsal nerve
Latissimus dorsi
Details
From posterior cord (C6-C8)
Innervates Latissimus dorsi muscle

What causes long thoracic nerve damage?

Causes. Long thoracic nerve is more prone to injury due to its excessive length. Usually, injury to this nerve occurs due to trauma, direct blow to the rib area, over stretching or strenuous repetitive movements of the arms, and sustained bearing of excessive weight over the shoulder.

How is long thoracic nerve damage diagnosed?

Typical signs and symptoms are as follows:

  1. Observable scapular winging at rest (usually inferior border only), with overhead movements, or resisted wall push-ups/push-ups whereby the entire scapula demonstrates winging (see figure 2).
  2. Pain around the base of the neck, deltoid, and scapula.

How do you fix long thoracic nerve?

The treatment options include physical or occupational therapy, and surgery. Surgery involves repair of the nerve either directly or with grafts and one of the widely employed surgical procedures is scapulothoracic fusion. Usually recovery of the nerve takes a long time; up to 6 months.

Where does long thoracic nerve get compressed?

Compression could affect LTN roots at the cervical spine from herniated discs, bone spurs, tumors or other obstructions. Moving distally from the nerve root, the next location of potential compression is between the anterior and middle scalene muscles.

How do you fix long thoracic nerve damage?

What does long thoracic nerve pain feel like?

What is long thoracic nerve?

The long thoracic nerve is the motor nerve to the serratus anterior muscle, which functions to pull the scapula forward around the thorax, allowing for anteversion of the arm, and to lift the ribs, assisting in respiration.

What are the symptoms of thoracic nerve damage?

What Are the Symptoms of Thoracic Nerve Damage?

  • Pain that starts from the lower neck to the shoulder, back, and chest.
  • Back pain that increases with activity.
  • Numbness and tingling in the same area of the shoulder, back, and chest.
  • Radiating weakness.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Muscle spasms in the upper or mid-back.

What does thoracodorsal mean?

Definition of thoracodorsal : of, relating to, or lying in the dorsal aspect of the thorax.

Can thoracic outlet syndrome affect feet?

Those affected by Arterial TOS may experience symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the hands or feet, cold or pale fingers, chronic arm fatigue and non-healing wounds or ulcerations in the fingers.

What are the symptoms of thoracic spine nerve damage?

What Are the Symptoms of Thoracic Spine Nerve Damage?

  • Significant leg weakness or loss of sensation.
  • Loss of feeling in genitals or rectal region.
  • No control of urine or stool.
  • Fever and lower back pain.
  • A fall or injury that caused the pain.