Reflex sympathetic dystrophy precipitated by brachial plexitis.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is believed to involve overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and it is associated with a large number of causes, mainly with local trauma, nevertheless brachial plexitis (neuralgic amyotrophy) was reported in only four patients by previous authors. We describe a new case in this report. The reinnervation sprouting of somatic nerve fibres can have abnormal sodium channels which can acquire ectopic pacemaker activity which can be stimulated by sympathetic efferent impulses, in this way the reinnervation period after a severe plexitis can be associated with an increased risk of this complication. The neurologist must be aware of this association to guide the affected patient to a correct treatment.