Definition
Neurological pain in arm after injury in sport
- usually due to brachial plexus injury
Epidemiology
Contact sports
- ice hockey
- rugby
- american football
- basketball
Pathology
Brachial plexus injury
Cervical nerve root injury
Aetiology
Traction injury
- hit onto shoulder
- head pushed in opposite direction to arm
Clinical
Pain / Parasthesia / Burning down arm
Temporary weakness
May last minutes to weeks
DDX
A stinger is a diagosis of exclusion
Cervical spine fracture
Herniated disc
Brachial plexus injury
Xray / MRI
Important to exclude fracture / HNP
Management
Rest
Soft Collar
Physiotherapy
NSAIDS
Self limiting condition
- return to sport when asymptomatic
Recurrence prevention
- sports collars
- change tackling techniques