What is backpack palsy?
What is backpack palsy? Backpack palsy is a rare but well-established cause of brachial plexus injury, arising as a result of heavy backpack use. We present an unusual case of backpack palsy with Horner's syndrome. Keywords: Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Accidents, injuries, Neurological injury, Peripheral nerve disease, Trauma CNS /PNS.
How do I get rid of backpack pain?
- • Check your posture. Carrying a backpack, especially a heavy one can change your spinal alignment. ...
- • Lessen the load. ...
- • Wear your backpack properly. ...
- • Consider backpacks with padded shoulder straps. ...
- • See a specialist.
What causes backpack palsy?
The condition was first described in 1969 in Vietnam soldiers. 8 The brachial plexus is injured by the weight of the backpack due to direct compression or stretch of the nerve tissue leading to demyelination, with or without axonal injury.
How do I fix my backpack posture?
Balance the weight of your body while carrying a backpack. – Avoid bending forward to compensate for the weight of the backpack or leaning to one side. 7. While walking with a backpack keep your head up and pull your chin back so your ears are aligned over your shoulders.
What nerve is affected by backpack injury?
This type of paralysis can occur when a backpack overloads our shoulder girdle, causing the shoulder blades to sag down dragging the collarbones with them. The collarbones will then compress the delicate long thoracic nerve against our rib cage and it is this nerve compression which causes the paralysis.
How long does it take to recover from backpack palsy?
Recovery Time and Treatment In both cases however full recovery will likely take 6 – 12 months and this time period will depend on the degree of initial nerve damage.