Non-clinical sciences/Anatomy · Brachial plexus

Klumpke's palsy (C8–T1)

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What it means

Lower brachial-plexus injury (C8–T1) — excessive ABDUCTION traction (grabbing a branch in a fall; arm pulled overhead at delivery). Paralyses the intrinsic hand muscles → claw hand; T1 sympathetic-fibre loss can give an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome (ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis).

Worked example

A climber who saves a fall by grabbing a branch develops a clawed hand ± Horner's syndrome.

In the exam

After a fall in which a man saved himself by grabbing an overhead branch, his hand is clawed with wasted intrinsics and there is a subtle ptosis and constricted pupil on the same side.

What settles it

Klumpke's (C8–T1) = distal claw hand ± Horner's. Erb's (C5–6) = proximal waiter's tip.

Classically confused with

Erb's palsy (C5–C6)

Source: TeachMeAnatomy — Brachial plexus injuries