Paresthesia and forearm pain after phlebotomy due to medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury
2011

Nerve Injury After Blood Draw

Sample size: 1 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Asheghan Mahsa, Khatibi Amidoddin, Holisaz Mohammad Taghi

Primary Institution: Baghyatollah University of Medical Sciences

Hypothesis

Phlebotomy can cause injury to the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

Conclusion

Phlebotomy is a cause of MAC nerve injury, and electrodiagnostic testing can help evaluate sensory disturbances after such procedures.

Supporting Evidence

  • Electrodiagnostic study showed severe involvement of the left MAC nerve.
  • This is the first case where electrodiagnostic studies documented venipuncture-related injury of the MAC nerve.
  • The MAC nerve is purely sensory, which can lead to undiagnosed injuries.

Takeaway

Sometimes when doctors take blood, it can hurt a nerve in your arm, making it feel funny or painful. A special test can help find out if this happened.

Methodology

Electrodiagnostic study was performed on bilateral MAC nerves to assess nerve function.

Limitations

The patient could not be followed for further evaluation.

Participant Demographics

A 45-year-old left-handed woman.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1749-7221-6-5

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