Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Department of Ultrasound, Yuncheng Central Hospital, Yuncheng, China.
J Ultrasound Med. 2023 Sep;42(9):2115-2123. doi: 10.1002/jum.16233. Epub 2023 Apr 26.
To evaluate the feasibility of axillary nerve (AN) visualization in healthy volunteers and the diagnostic value of AN injury via high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS).
AN was examined by HRUS on both sides of 48 healthy volunteers and oriented the transducer according to three anatomical landmarks: quadrilateral space, anterior to subscapular muscle, and posterior to axillary artery. The maximum short-axis diameter (SD) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of AN were measured at different levels, and AN visibility was graded by using a five-point scale. The patients suspected of having AN injury were assessed by HRUS, and the HRUS features of AN injury were observed.
AN can be visualized on both sides in all volunteers. There was no significant difference in SD and CSA of AN at the three levels between the left and right sides or in SD between males and females. However, the CSA of males at different levels was slightly larger than those of females (P < .05). In most volunteers, AN visibility at different levels was excellent or good, and AN was best displayed anterior to subscapular muscle. Rank correlation analysis revealed that the degree of AN visibility had correlation with height, weight, and BMI. A total of 15 patients diagnosed with AN injury, 12 patients showed diffuse swelling or focal thickening in AN, and 3 patients showed AN discontinuity.
HRUS is able to reliably visualize AN, and it could be considered as the first choice for diagnosing AN injury.
评估高频超声（HRUS）用于检测健康志愿者腋神经（AN）和诊断 AN 损伤的可行性。
对 48 名健康志愿者双侧的 AN 进行 HRUS 检查，并根据三个解剖学标志定位换能器：四边孔、肩胛下肌前和腋动脉后。在不同水平测量 AN 的最大短轴直径（SD）和横截面积（CSA），并使用五分制对 AN 的可见度进行分级。对疑似 AN 损伤的患者进行 HRUS 评估，观察 AN 损伤的 HRUS 特征。
所有志愿者的双侧均可显示 AN。左右两侧的 AN 在三个水平的 SD 和 CSA 以及男性的 SD 之间无显著差异，但不同水平男性的 CSA 略大于女性（P <.05）。在大多数志愿者中，不同水平的 AN 可见度为优秀或良好，AN 在肩胛下肌前显示最佳。秩相关分析表明，AN 的可见度与身高、体重和 BMI 相关。共诊断 15 例 AN 损伤患者，12 例患者 AN 弥漫性肿胀或局灶性增厚，3 例患者 AN 连续性中断。
HRUS 能够可靠地显示 AN，可作为诊断 AN 损伤的首选方法。
