Definition:
Neurapraxia is a disorder of the peripheral nervous system in which there is a temporary loss of motor and sensory function due to blockage of nerve conduction, usually lasting an average of six to eight weeks before full recovery.
We can say it is the injury to the nerve fiber which is present in its normal but with a loss in nerve impulse and conduction.
Causes:
- Blunt neural injury due to external blows
- Shock-like injuries to muscle fibers and skeletal nerve fibers
- Neural lesion which causes a temporary block of nerve conduction
- The most common mechanism of injury is nerve compression in which external pressure causes decreased blood flow to the nerve and deformation of the nerve fibers
Microscopically:
Microscopic evidence has shown that there is damage to the myelin sheath, but not to the axon that is the reason for recovery in 6 to 8 months after the myelin sheath is replaced.
Symptoms or Clinical Features:
Symptoms are mainly based on the nerve which is affected, the commonly seen features are:
- Disturbances in sensation
- Weakness of muscle
- Vasomotor and sudomotor paralysis in the region of the affected nerve or nerves
- Abnormal sensitivity of the nerve at the point of injury
Prognosis:
Neurapraxia has good prognosis as already discussed above, wherein the recovery starts immediately 2-3 weeks after injury.
Treatment:
No specific treatment is required for Nerapraxia
