An unusual cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction of the shoulder girdle: Parsonage–Turner syndrome—case report

Abstract

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a rare dis- order consisting of a complex aggregate of signs and symp- toms with an acute onset of pain followed by muscle weakness in a separate peripheral nerve distribution, dysesthesias, and numbness. Although the etiology of PTS is unclear, it is reported in various clinical situations, includ- ing postoperatively, postinfectious, posttraumatic, and postvaccination. We report a case of a 27-year-old man that presented to our outpatient clinic with a throbbing acute shoulder pain and motor weakness over several months that did not improve after 2 years. At the time of consultation, he complained of left-sided neck pain radiating to the left deltoid muscle and axilla as well as left shoulder blade pain with shoulder girdle muscle weakness. Repeated electrodiagnostic studies revealed denervation limited to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles without evi- dence of cervical radiculopathy. He was diagnosed with PTS. The authors review patient presentation, physical ex- amination, and workup needed for diagnosis of PTS to help physicians diagnose and treat this complex syndrome.