Parsonage-Turner syndrome: current perspectives on etiology, diagnosis, and management

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is an underdiagnosed condition that presents with debilitating symptoms in affected patients, with reported incidence rates varying between 1.64 and 3 per 100,000 individuals. Clinical presentation often includes acute shoulder pain associated with neurological deficits that do not follow a regular diagnostic pattern. The cause of this disease is not fully understood, but it is generally triggered by an upper respiratory infection a few weeks prior to presentation. Other associated risk factors include genetic predisposition, vaccines, and surgical intervention. Diagnosis often relies on clinical investigation, holistic physical exam, and appropriate diagnostic studies. Treatment is often conservative, in the form of physical rehabilitation and pain management to avoid muscular atrophy. The condition generally resolves over time, with a recovery rate of 65% at 10 months and a favorable prognosis for most cases. However, recurrences are noted, especially in patients with a genetic predisposition to the condition (75% in the hereditary form vs. 26% in the general form). Future research should explore the pathophysiological processes behind this disease to extrapolate strategies that can achieve an earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.