Isolated unilateral brachial plexus injury following carbon monoxide intoxication: a case report and literature review

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous gas because it's hard to detect and can lead to coma or death. It causes tissue hypoxia, leading to systemic complications. Peripheral neuropathy is relatively rare after CO poisoning. This report describes a case of isolated unilateral brachial plexopathy following CO intoxication. The likely cause is CO-induced spinal cord ischemia. Immediate administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is crucial. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) should be administered immediately after acute CO intoxication to prevent peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, peripheral neuropathy following acute CO intoxication may benefit from consistent rehabilitation training.

• 1
  A 31-year-old man developed left brachial plexopathy after CO poisoning, confirmed by electrophysiological studies showing severe abnormalities in the upper and moderate abnormalities in the middle branches.
• 2
  MRI revealed a long strip of high signal intensity in the left region of the cervical medulla, suggesting spinal cord involvement. The patient's position during unconsciousness may have contributed to spondylogenic compression.
• 3
  The patient showed slight improvement after HBOT and rehabilitation, but significant atrophy of the left deltoid and biceps muscles was noted.