• Daniel Philip Wiser Smith, Jennifer A Elliott, and James H Helzberg.
• From the *Department of Anesthesiology, Kansas City School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO; and †Davidson College, Davidson, NC.
• Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 May 1;39(3):243-7.

ObjectiveParsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a distinct clinical disorder characterized by pain, sensory loss, and impaired mobility of the upper extremities and, less commonly, the lower extremities. Manifestations vary from minor to fairly extensive involvement of the brachial and/or lumbosacral plexus. No evidence-based treatment protocol exists, with only anecdotal support of varied palliative efforts.Case ReportWe describe a case of PTS in an otherwise healthy 19-year-old man presenting with severe neuropathic pain in the right upper extremity progressing to include weakness and contralateral extremity involvement. Intravenous corticosteroids were initiated with resolution of the pain after the first day of therapy and improvement in muscular strength throughout his hospitalization.ConclusionsThis case supports the use of intravenous corticosteroids in the literature as a treatment option for PTS to ameliorate intractable pain as well as to impede the progression of motor dysfunction.

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