Peripheral nerve injury in sports

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries in sports are rare. Peripheral nerve injuries in sports are caused by pressure, stretching, or bone fracture. Peripheral nerve injuries are more frequent on upper limbs, and the type of injury is determined by the type of sport. According to Seddon, we distinguish 3 levels of injury: 1) neurapraxia; 2) axonotmesis; and 3) neurotmesis. Diagnosis must be reached as early as possible to enable timely initiation of appropriate treatment. The diagnostics of peripheral nerve injuries includes electromyography and nerve conduction studies, somatosensory evoked potentials, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. Proximal nerve injuries have a poorer prognosis for neurologic recovery.