Nonvasculitic ischemic neuropathies

Abstract

There are a number of disorders, other than vasculitis, in which nerve fibers sustain ischemic injury. This heterologous group is composed of entities caused by compromise of arterial blood flow in vessels of markedly various sizes. Moreover, with some of them, concomitant damage to structures other than neural tissue (e.g., muscle) is an integral component. Six of these disorders are reviewed in this chapter: (1) compartment syndromes, (2) ischemic monomelic neuropathy, (3) acute ischemic mononeuropathy/plexopathy (nerve damage due to embolism or stenosis), (4) chronic limb ischemia (atherosclerotic polyneuropathy), (5) frostbite, and (6) hand-arm vibration syndrome. This chapter discusses these disorders' pathogenesis, causes, and treatment.