Parsonage–Turner Syndrome Following Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review

Neurologist at Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil

*Corresponding author: Francisco Tomaz Meneses de Oliveira, MD, Neurologist at Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil, Phone: 11982660686, Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Received Date: March 30, 2026

Published Date: April 20, 2026

Citation: Oliveira FTM. (2026). Parsonage–Turner Syndrome Following Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review. Orthop Res J. 8(1):31.

Copyrights: Oliveira FTM. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Parsonage–Turner syndrome (PTS), also known as neuralgic amyotrophy, is an uncommon peripheral neuropathy characterized by acute onset of severe shoulder pain followed by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Although its etiology is not fully understood, it is widely considered an immune-mediated condition frequently triggered by viral infections. Since the emergence of COVID-19, increasing reports have suggested a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PTS. We report the case of a 60-year-old male who developed severe shoulder pain ten days after a mild COVID-19 infection confirmed by PCR. The pain was followed by progressive weakness of the left upper limb. Electroneuromyography revealed chronic axonal injury with reinnervation in the suprascapular nerve territory. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and physiotherapy, with progressive improvement over six months. This case highlights the importance of recognizing Parsonage–Turner syndrome in patients presenting with shoulder pain after COVID-19, particularly to avoid misdiagnosis as a primary orthopedic disorder.