NONINVASIVE DISCRIMINATION OF BRACHIAL-PLEXUS INVOLVEMENT IN UPPER-LIMB PAIN

The ability of Elvey's ''brachial plexus tension test'' to identify pa in referred from the cervical region was investigated in 50 patients w ith unilateral shoulder and upper arm pain: 25 reported symptoms comme ncing after open heart surgery, indicating a high probability of refer red pain due to that procedure; 25 were athletes with injuries from th rowing movements, a cause appearing much less likely to cause referred pain. Twenty-five asymptomatic subjects with no history of spinal or limb pain also were tested. Cervical and upper limb maneuvers of the t est were assessed goniometrically. The cardiac group showed significan tly greater test results than those of the other groups, suggesting th at the test is able to discriminate referred and local sources of uppe r limb pain.