Adverse Neurologic Sequelae : Peripheral Nerve Injury

Case Synopsis

A 62-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery via a median sternotomy, with harvesting of the internal mammary artery. During a routine postoperative visit, the patient complains of a “tingling” sensation in the fourth and fifth fingers of his left hand. On physical examination, he has decreased sensation over those fingers, with minimally reduced muscular function in the ulnar distribution. A neurology consultation is obtained, and the patient is diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury.