Injury of axillary nerve (axillary neuropathy) is a condition that can be associated with a

surgical neck of the humerus The surgical neck of the humerus is a bony constriction at the proximal end of shaft of humerus. It is situated distal to the greater tubercle and lesser tubercle, and proximal to the deltoid tuberosity. Clinical significance The surgical nec ...

fracture Fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacement discontinuity surfaces within the solid. If a displa ...

. It can also be associated with a dislocated shoulder or with traction injury to the nerve, which may be caused by over-aggressive stretching or blunt trauma that does not result in fracture or dislocation. One form of this injury is referred to as

axillary nerve palsy Axillary nerve palsy is a neurological condition in which the Axillary nerve, axillary (also called circumflex) nerve has been damaged by shoulder dislocation. It can cause weak deltoid muscle, deltoid and sensory loss below the shoulder. Since th ...

. Injury most commonly occurs proximal to the quadrangular space. Injury in this nerve causes paralysis (as always) to the muscles innervated by it, most importantly deltoid muscle. This muscle is the main abductor of the shoulder joint from 18 to 90 degrees (from 0 to 18 by supraspinatus). Injury can result in a reduction in shoulder

abduction Abduction may refer to: Media Film and television * "Abduction" (''The Outer Limits''), a 2001 television episode * " Abduction" (''Death Note'') a Japanese animation television series * " Abductions" (''Totally Spies!''), a 2002 episode of an ...

. So a test can be applied to a patient with injury of axillary nerve by trying to abduct the injured shoulder against resistance. The pain from axillary neuropathy is usually dull and aching rather than sharp, and increases with increasing range of motion. Many people notice only mild pain but considerable weakness when they try to use the affected shoulder.

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Injuries of shoulder and upper arm {{musculoskeletal-disease-stub