Musculocutaneous nerve palsy: an isolated complication of surgery.

Isolated paralysis of the musculocutaneous nerve, as reported in the literature, is an extremely rare phenomenon. It is our purpose to document the occurrence of one case as a complication of abdominal surgery. Possible mechanisms suggest why the musculocutaneous nerve may be vulnerable to injury during surgical procedures that incorporate certain methods of patient positioning. The particular pattern of nerve damage reflected in this case report may be helpful in further elucidating the other, more common, diffuse postoperative brachial plexus palsies.