Which condition could be associated with the development of Erb's palsy, reflecting brachial plexus neuritis?

• A. Cervical radiculopathy of C7-C8
• B. Long thoracic nerve injury
• C. Parsonage-Turner syndrome
• D. Spinal accessory nerve injury

Answer: (C)

Erb's palsy reflects injury to the upper part of the brachial plexus (C5-C6), which can be seen in brachial plexus neuritis. Parsonage-Turner syndrome, or acute brachial neuritis, fits this scenario because it involves inflammatory or demyelinating processes targeting the brachial plexus and often affects the same nerve roots (C5-C6). This can produce sudden shoulder pain followed by weakness in the muscles supplied by the upper trunk, mimicking or causing an Erb’s palsy pattern. The other options don’t align with the brachial plexus neuritis pattern: cervical radiculopathy at C7-C8 involves different root levels and pain/weakness distribution; long thoracic nerve injury causes scapular winging from serratus anterior weakness; spinal accessory nerve injury primarily affects trapezius/Sternocleidomastoid function, not the classical Erb’s palsy distribution.