Upper Extremity Nerve Injuries

Nerve injuries in sports are relatively uncommon and may present in a delayed fashion in young athletes. These injuries include both sudden, traumatic injuries such as burners, scapular winging, and lacerations, as well as chronic compressive conditions including cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. Young people often have difficulty describing numbness, and examining a child with a nerve injury can be difficult. Although electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) are the gold standard for diagnosis of many neuropathies, newer modalities such as ultrasound and MRI can often evaluate these injuries in a noninvasive and less painful way. Treatment for nerve injuries ranges from rest to physical therapy to surgery. Return to play following these injuries can be lengthy, with significant rehabilitation required.