Parsonage-Turner syndrome (brachial neuritis)

Overview

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS), also known as brachial neuritis or neuralgic amyotrophy, is a rare neurological disorder that is often believed to have an autoimmune basis. It is characterized by the sudden onset of severe shoulder and upper arm pain followed by weakness, muscle wasting (atrophy), and sometimes sensory changes in the affected arm. PTS most commonly affects the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that extends from the spinal cord through the neck, shoulder, and armpit to the arm and hand. Symptoms and severity vary depending on which nerves are involved.

Common Symptoms

Sharp, burning pain in one shoulder, the neck, arm, hand, or legs that worsens in the evenings, muscle weakness in the shoulder, reflex issues, numbness or loss of feeling in extremities, partial dislocation of the shoulder joint, limited range of motion in joints, protruding shoulder blade, shortened muscles/tendons, shortness of breath, sweating, swelling, red/purple hands, or spotting of hands.

Coexisting Diseases and Conditions

Polyneuropathy, paresthesia, dysesthesia, and hypoesthesia, and multiple sclerosis.

Risk Factors and Prevalence

Male sex, surgery, strenuous exercise, minor trauma, certain anesthesia medication, and viral infection.
Pre-existing conditions such as connective tissue disease, lupus, temporal arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and childbirth have been identified as potential triggers.

Recent Research

Sources

Sources
1. Duman, I., Guvenc, I., Tezel, K., & Aydemir, K. (2013). Multiple Sclerosis Presenting with Parsonage–Turner Syndrome: A Case Report. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain, 21(4), 361–364. https://doi.org/10.3109/10582452.2013.860938
2. McCarty, E. C., Tsairis, P., & Warren, R. F. (1999). Brachial neuritis. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (368), 37–43.
3. Parsonage Turner syndrome | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/4228/parsonage-turner-syndrome
4. Parsonage Turner Syndrome. (n.d.-a). NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/parsonage-turner-syndrome/
5. Parsonage Turner syndrome: Treatment, Cause & Symptoms. (n.d.-b). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15390-parsonage-turner-syndrome
6. Van Eijk, J. J., Groothuis, J. T., & Van Alfen, N. (2016). Neuralgic amyotrophy: An update on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment. Muscle & nerve, 53(3), 337–350. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.25008
7. Gilcrease-Garcia, B. M., Deshmukh, S. D., & Parsons, M. S. (2020). Anatomy, Imaging, and Pathologic Conditions of the Brachial Plexus. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc, 40(6), 1686–1714. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2020200012
8. Sumner A. J. (2009). Idiopathic brachial neuritis. Neurosurgery, 65(4 Suppl), A150–A152. https://doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000345355.59438.D1
9. Meiling, J. B., Boon, A. J., Niu, Z., Howe, B. M., Hoskote, S. S., Spinner, R. J., & Klein, C. J. (2024). Parsonage-Turner Syndrome and Hereditary Brachial Plexus Neuropathy. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 99(1), 124–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.06.011
10. Holle, J. F., Limmroth, V., Windisch, W., & Zimmerman, M. (2024). Neuralgic Amyotrophy. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 121(15), 483–489. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0077
11. Gabet, J. M., Anderson, N., Groothuis, J. T., Zeldin, E. R., Norbury, J. W., Jack, A. S., Jacques, L., Sneag, D. B., & Poncelet, A. (2025). Neuralgic amyotrophy: An update in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. Muscle & nerve, 71(5), 846–856. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28274