During a shoulder dislocation, which nerve is most at risk of injury?

During a shoulder dislocation, which nerve is most at risk of injury?

• A. Axillary
• B. Median
• C. Radial
• D. Ulnar

Answer: (A)

During a shoulder dislocation, the nerve most at risk is the axillary nerve because it runs right around the surgical neck of the humerus in close contact with the joint. When the humeral head is displaced, the axillary nerve can be stretched or compressed, leading to weakness of the deltoid (and thus impaired arm abduction beyond about 15 degrees) and sensory loss over the lateral shoulder. The other nerves—median, radial, and ulnar—are located along the arm, forearm, and hand and are not as intimately involved with the shoulder joint itself, so they are less likely to be injured by the dislocation.

During a shoulder dislocation, the nerve most at risk is the axillary nerve because it runs right around the surgical neck of the humerus in close contact with the joint. When the humeral head is displaced, the axillary nerve can be stretched or compressed, leading to weakness of the deltoid (and thus impaired arm abduction beyond about 15 degrees) and sensory loss over the lateral shoulder. The other nerves—median, radial, and ulnar—are located along the arm, forearm, and hand and are not as intimately involved with the shoulder joint itself, so they are less likely to be injured by the dislocation.