Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1977 Jan;40(1):50–57. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.40.1.50

Prolonged conduction block with axonal degeneration. An electrophysiological study.

W Trojaborg
PMCID: PMC492604  PMID: 191567

Abstract

Serial electrophysiological studies were performed in a case of 'tourniquet paralysis' of the upper limb after the application of an Esmarch bandage above the elbow. Three months after onset of paralysis, nerve conduction was reduced to a quarter of normal between elbow and and axilla along the few fibres still conducting through the lesion, but was normal distal to the block. Seven months after nerve damage, EMG showed evidence of reinnervation after Wallerian degeneration, and half the nerve fibres had recovered from the conduction block. Thirteen months after nerve injury clinical examination and nerve conduction were normal, but EMG still showed evidence of partial denervation.

Full text

PDF
51

Images in this article

51Image
on p.51
56Image
on p.56

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BRUNER J. M. Safety factors in the use of the pneumatic tourniquet for hemostasis in surgery of the hand. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1951 Jan;33 A(1):221–224. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Fowler T. J., Danta G., Gilliatt R. W. Recovery of nerve conduction after a pneumatic tourniquet: observations on the hind-limb of the baboon. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Oct;35(5):638–647. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.5.638. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Harrison M. J. Pressure palsy of the ulnar nerve with prolonged conduction block. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1976 Jan;39(1):96–99. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.39.1.96. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. MOLDAVER J. Tourniquet paralysis syndrome. AMA Arch Surg. 1954 Feb;68(2):136–144. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1954.01260050138002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Ochoa J., Fowler T. J., Gilliatt R. W. Anatomical changes in peripheral nerves compressed by a pneumatic tourniquet. J Anat. 1972 Dec;113(Pt 3):433–455. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Olsen P. Z. Prediction of recovery in Bell's palsy. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 1975;61:1–121. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1975.tb01402.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Rudge P. Tourniquet paralysis with prolonged conduction block. An electro-physiological study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1974 Nov;56-B(4):716–720. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.56B4.716. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. TROJABORG W. MOTOR NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITIES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CONDUCTION IN PROXIMAL AND DISTAL SEGMENTS OF MEDIAN AND ULNAR NERVE. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1964 Sep;17:314–321. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(64)90132-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Trojaborg W. Motor and sensory conduction in the musculocutaneous nerve. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1976 Sep;39(9):890–899. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.39.9.890. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Trojaborg W. Rate of recovery in motor and sensory fibres of the radial nerve: clinical and electrophysiological aspects. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1970 Oct;33(5):625–638. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.33.5.625. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Trojaborg W., Sindrup E. H. Motor and sensory conduction in different segments of the radial nerve in normal subjects. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1969 Aug;32(4):354–359. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.32.4.354. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES