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Hand & Upper Limb
intermediate
X-Type

Spinal Accessory Nerve Injury

Nerve Injuries

A 35-year-old woman develops shoulder weakness and drooping 6 weeks after lymph node biopsy in the posterior cervical triangle. She has difficulty with overhead activities and notes her shoulder blade looks prominent. Examination reveals weakness of shoulder shrug and lateral scapular winging with arm forward elevation. Regarding spinal accessory nerve injury:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

The spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) has two divisions: the cranial portion (from nucleus a...

B

Common causes of injury include iatrogenic damage during lymph node biopsy or neck dissection (most ...

C

The spinal accessory nerve innervates the rhomboids; injury causes medial scapular winging; the nerv...

D

Clinical features of trapezius palsy include shoulder droop, lateral (outward) scapular winging with...

E

Treatment includes observation for neurapraxia (up to 6-12 months for recovery), nerve exploration a...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option