Diabetic radiculoplexopathy is commonly viewed as a condition affecting the
lower extremities. However, other regions may also be affected and the pre
sence of upper extremity involvement has rarely been emphasized. Our goal w
as to illustrate the clinical features of arm involvement in this condition
. Of 60 patients with diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexopathy, we identifie
d 9 who also had upper extremity involvement. The study included 8 men and
1 woman, ranging in age from 36 to 71 years, Upper limb involvement develop
ed simultaneously with the onset of lower limb disorder in 1 patient, prece
ded it by 2 months in another patient, and occurred between 3 weeks and 15
months later in the remaining 7. In 5 cases, arm involvement developed afte
r symptoms in the legs began to improve. The upper extremity weakness affec
ted the hands and forearms most severely. It was unilateral in 5 patients a
nd bilateral but asymmetric in 4. Pain was often present, but it was not a
prominent feature, In most patients, neurologic deficits in the arms improv
ed spontaneously after 2-9 months. We conclude that diabetic radiculoplexop
athy may involve the cervical region before, after, or simultaneously with
the lumbosacral syndrome, The upper limb process is similar to that in the
legs, with subacutely progressive weakness and pain followed by spontaneous
recovery. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.