The medial brachial fascial compartment syndrome following axillary arteriography

Abstract

Objective: To review clinical and electrodiagnostic features of the medial brachial fascial compartment syndrome, a complication of percutaneous axillary vessel puncture.

Methods: The authors reviewed electrodiagnostic examinations over a 20-year period.

Results: This syndrome presents with weakness, pain, and numbness during or following the percutaneous procedure. Injury is characterized by axon loss and involves terminal nerves of the infraclavicular brachial plexus-most often the median nerve alone, followed by combinations of the median, ulnar, radial, and musculocutaneous nerves.

Conclusions: Early recognition of the medial brachial fascial compartment syndrome may lead to prompt surgical intervention, which, in turn, may prevent permanent nerve injury. Late diagnosis generally results in poor outcome and often results from delayed symptom onset and lack of overt compartment syndrome signs.